The First Phosphine Oxide Ligand Precursors for Transition Metal Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions: C−C, C−N, and C−S Bond Formation on Unactivated Aryl Chlorides

Abstract

Rapid and regioselective oxidative addition of unactivated aryl chlorides in the presence of bases can be achieved by using metal complexes of phosphinous acid (RR′POH), for which air-stable phosphine oxides (RR′P(O)H) serve as ideal ligand precursors. Such processes can be incorporated into efficient catalytic cycles for a variety of C−C, C−N, and C−S bond-forming processes (see scheme, Ar=aryl).