Arylation Reactions of Alkynes The Sonogashira Reaction

In 1975, three different protocols were available in the literature, each describing the synthesis of internal alkynes. Cassar described palladium- or nickel-mediated reactions between aryl or vinyl halides and alkynes complexes with phosphine as ligands in the presence of NaOMe [1]. As a second protocol, Heck pubhshed a variation of the Mizoroki-Heck couplings, in which the olefins were replaced by alkynes and coupled with (hetero)aryl, as weU as alkenyl bromides or iodides at 100 °C in the presence of a basic amine [2]. More than a decade earUer, Stephens and Castro had described the details of a palladium-free coupling of aryl iodides with cuprous acetylides in refluxing pyridine [3]. 

The convenience of this methodology promoted it as being the most popular protocol for the synthesis of internal alkynes, which is itself (as well as in different variations) closely associated with Sonogashira s name. For instance, couplings involving silver instead of copper salts as additives, as well as copper-free protocols, are also considered Sonogashira reactions. Further, the formation of C(sp )—C(sp) 

Modem Arylation Methods. Edited by Lutz Ackermann 

Copyright 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA, Weinheim 

The expanded use of the term Sonogashira reflects that it is not only important to develop a new reaction, but that it at least equally relevant to hansform it into a reliable and convenient methodology for organic synthesis. Since its inception, many variations of this transformation have been examined. Thus, various ligands, metal complexes, electrophiles, alkynes and bases were among others examined. In this context, it is somewhat counterintuihve to reahze that the mechanism of Sonogashira reactions has received little attention until recently. 

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Closely related to the Heck reaction is the Sonogashira reaction i.e. the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of a vinyl or aryl halide 20 and a terminal alkyne 21 ... 

The original Sonogashira reaction uses copper(l) iodide as a co-catalyst, which converts the alkyne in situ into a copper acetylide. In a subsequent transmeta-lation reaction, the copper is replaced by the palladium complex. The reaction mechanism, with respect to the catalytic cycle, largely corresponds to the Heck reaction.Besides the usual aryl and vinyl halides, i.e. bromides and iodides, trifluoromethanesulfonates (triflates) may be employed. The Sonogashira reaction is well-suited for the synthesis of unsymmetrical bis-2xy ethynes, e.g. 23, which can be prepared as outlined in the following scheme, in a one-pot reaction by applying the so-called sila-Sonogashira reaction ... 

The coupling of terminal alkynes with aryl or alkenyl halides catalysed by palladium and a copper co-catalyst in a basic medium is known as the Sonogashira reaction. A Cu(I)-acetylide complex is formed in situ and transmetallates to the Pd(II) complex obtained after oxidative addition of the halide. Through a reductive elimination pathway the reaction delivers substituted alkynes as products. 

There are a number of procedures for coupling of terminal alkynes with halides and sulfonates, a reaction that is known as the Sonogashira reaction.161 A combination of Pd(PPh3)4 and Cu(I) effects coupling of terminal alkynes with vinyl or aryl halides.162 The reaction can be carried out directly with the alkyne, using amines for deprotonation. The alkyne is presumably converted to the copper acetylide, and the halide reacts with Pd(0) by oxidative addition. Transfer of the acetylide group to Pd results in reductive elimination and formation of the observed product. 

A palladium catalyst with a less electron-rich ligand, 2,2-dipyridyl-methylamine-based palladium complexes (4.2), is effective for coupling of aryl iodides or bromides with terminal alkynes in the presence of pyrrolidine and tetrabutylammonium acetate (TBAB) at 100°C in water.37 However, the reactions were shown to be faster in NMP solvent than in water under the reaction conditions. Palladium-phosphinous acid (POPd) was also reported as an effective catalyst for the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of aryl alkynes with aryl iodides, bromides, or chlorides in water (Eq. 4.18).38... 

There are many other transition-metal catalyzed coupling reactions that are based on organic halides in aqueous media. One example is the coupling of terminal alkyne with aryl halides, the Sonogashira coupling, which has been discussed in detail in the chapter on alkynes (Chapter 4). An example is the condensation of 2-propynyl or allyl halides with simple acetylenes in the presence of copper salts. 

The Sonogashira reaction is a C-C coupling reaction of terminal alkynes with aryl or vinyl halides in presence of Pd(0) metal and/or Cu(i) catalyst. These compounds are useful in synthesizing species having pharmaceutical... 

Generally, the Sonogashira coupling reaction is achieved by a palladium-copper catalyzed reaction of aryl or vinyl halide and terminal alkyne [70-72], The presence of the copper co-catalyst is an obstacle, however, towards the metallodendritic approach of the system. In this context, only a few examples of copper-free procedures have been reported [73-77], involving for instance, in situ Pd(0) complex formation with bulky phosphines [78]. 

In 2006, Li and Wang reported the palladium-free, silver-catalyzed Sonogashira-type coupling of aryl halides and terminal alkynes. The reaction proceeds in high yield in the presence of catalytic silver iodide, triphenylphosphine, and potassium carbonate. Although the mechanism remains unclear, it is evident that the silver acetylide has a role, as the acetylide is formed on mixing of the reagents (Scheme 1.54).122... 

The coupling of terminal alkynes with aryl or vinyl halides under palladium catalysis is known as the Sonogashira reaction. This catalytic process requires the use of a palladium(0) complex, is performed in the presence of base, and generally uses copper iodide as a co-catalyst. One partner, the aryl or vinyl halide, is the same as in the Stille and Suzuki couplings but the other has hydrogen instead of tin or boron as the metal to be exchanged for palladium. 

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