Wang K,
Ding Z,
Zhou Z,
Kong W.
* Wuhan University, P. R. of China
Ni-Catalyzed Enantioselective Reductive Diarylation of Activated Alkenes by Domino Cyclization/Cross-Coupling.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018;
140: 12364-12368
Key words
nickel catalysis - domino reaction - diarylation
Significance
The authors report a reductive diarylation of alkenes by using a nickel-catalyzed domino process employing two aryl electrophiles. This represents the first report of metal-catalyzed reductive coupling for the synthesis of oxindole scaffolds.
Comment
Following optimization of the reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope that included aryl bromides and alkenes was observed. An example of an azaoxindole was also demonstrated. The authors consider two possible pathways: One features two oxidative addition steps. The key step of the second pathway is a transmetalation between two nickel(II) species.
