Cobalt-Catalyzed Biaryl Couplings via C–F Bond Activation in the Absence of Phosphine or NHC Ligands

Abstract

A highly general and selective Co-catalyzed biaryl coupling through C–F cleavage under phosphine or NHC-free conditions was described. A broad range of aryl fluorides including unactivated fluorides as well as those with sensitive functionalities could couple with various Ti­(OEt)₄-mediated aryl Grignard reagents with high selectivity under the catalysis of CoCl₂/DMPU. Importantly, selective C–F bond activation couplings between two types of fluorines (difluorinated aromatics and on two different coupling partners) and in the presence of C–Cl or C–Br bonds could also be achieved