Desulfonative Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling of Sulfonyl Fluorides

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2021 Nov 22;60(48):25307-25312. doi: 10.1002/anie.202111977. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Abstract

Sulfonyl fluorides have emerged as powerful "click" electrophiles to access sulfonylated derivatives. Yet, they are relatively inert towards C-C bond forming transformations, notably under transition-metal catalysis. Here, we describe conditions under which aryl sulfonyl fluorides act as electrophiles for the Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. This desulfonative cross-coupling occurs selectively in the absence of base and, unusually, even in the presence of strong acids. Divergent one-step syntheses of two analogues of bioactive compounds showcase the expanded reactivity of sulfonyl fluorides to encompass both S-Nu and C-C bond formation. Mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations suggest oxidative addition occurs at the C-S bond followed by desulfonation to form a Pd-F intermediate that facilitates transmetalation.

Keywords: SuFEx; cross-coupling; heterocycles; palladium; reaction mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't