Direct C-H Arylation of Benzene, Naphthalene, and Pyridine

Significance

Direct C-H arylation of benzene, naphthalene, and pyridine was achieved using Cp₂Ni as catalyst in the presence of KOt-Bu and Et₃B or Ph₃P (for arylation of pyridine). The best yields were obtained with aryl bromides as electrophiles. Arylations of naphthalene proceeded with a preference for the 1-arylated product. For pyridine, positions 2 and 3 were preferentially arylated.