Work

Linear-Selective Hydroarylation of Unactivated Terminal and Internal Olefins with Trifluoromethyl-Substituted Arenes

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: We report a series of hydroarylations of unactivated olefins with trifluoromethyl-substituted arenes that occur with high selectivity for the linear product without directing groups on the arene. We also show that hydroarylations occur with internal, acyclic olefins to yield linear alkylarene products. Experimental mechanistic data provide evidence for reversible formation of an alkylnickel-aryl intermediate and rate-determining reductive elimination to form the carbon-carbon bond. Labeling studies show that formation of terminal alkylarenes from internal alkenes occurs by initial establishment of an equilibrating mixture of alkene isomers, followed by addition of the arene to the terminal alkene. Computational (DFT) studies imply that the aryl C-H bond transfers to a coordinated alkene without oxidative addition and support the conclusion from experiment that reductive elimination is rate-determining and forms the anti-Markovnikov product. The reactions are inverse order in α-olefin; thus the catalytic reaction occurs, in part, because isomerization creates a low concentration of the reactant α-olefin.

Source: Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/ja505579f

Authors: Joseph S. Bair, York Schramm, Alexey G. Sergeev, Eric Clot, Odile Eisenstein, John F. Hartwig