Negishi reaction, transition metal cross-coupling

The insight that zinc ester enolates can be prepared prior to the addition of the electrophile has largely expanded the scope of the Reformatsky reaction.1-3 Substrates such as azomethines that quaternize in the presence of a-halo-esters do react without incident under these two-step conditions.23 The same holds true for acyl halides which readily decompose on exposure to zinc dust, but react properly with preformed zinc ester enolates in the presence of catalytic amounts of Pd(0) complexes.24 Alkylations of Reformatsky reagents are usually difficult to achieve and proceed only with the most reactive agents such as methyl iodide or benzyl halides.25 However, zinc ester enolates can be cross-coupled with aryl- and alkenyl halides or -triflates, respectively, in the presence of transition metal catalysts in a Negishi-type reaction.26 Table 14.2 compiles a few selected examples of Reformatsky reactions with electrophiles other than aldehydes or ketones.27... 

Consequently, to narrow the definition a bit further, we will adhere to Negishi s suggestion and define cross-coupling reactions as those that follow some variation of the mechanism depicted in Scheme 1 (where Mt is a transition metal, L is an ancillary hgand see Ancillary Ligand), and n is the oxidation state of the reduced metal in the catalytic cycle). This mechanism is supported by stoichiometric studies on isolated metal complexes (mostly where Mt = Pd, n = 0, L = triphenylphosphine) thought to be the intermediates in this cycle. 

Negishi, E., Van Horn, D. E. Selective carbon-carbon bond formation via transition metal catalysis. 4. A novel approach to cross-coupling exemplified by the nickel-catalyzed reaction of alkenylzirconium derivatives with aryl halides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1977, 99, 3168-3170. 

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