Phenyl-aryl coupling, palladium-, nickel

Transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of halogenopyrazines is an efficient synthetic method for alkyl-, alkenyl-, and alkynylpyrazines (Section 6.03.5.4.2). Palladium and nickel complexes are particularly effective as catalysts in this reaction. The Wittig reaction of halogenomethyl-pyrazines likewise leads to the formation of alkenylpyrazines (Section 6.03.8.1). Dehalogenation of halogeno pyrazines is a very practical synthetic method for alkyl- or aryl-substituted pyrazines. For example, phenylpyrazine has been prepared by catalytic hydrogenolysis of the 2-chloro-3-phenyl compound in the presence of triethylamine. This product is also obtained by decarboxylation of... 

In sharp contrast to the palladium- and nickel-catalyzed cross-couplings described above, iron catalysts show a high catalytic activity towards secondary alkyl halides, as reported by Nakamura and coworkers. Thus, cyclohexyl chloride, bromide or iodide can be arylated by a phenyl Grignard reagent in almost quantitative yield in the presence of FeCh as catalyst, along with an excess amount of a diamine additive N,N,N, N -tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA). Primary alkyl halides, such as octyl chloride, bromide and iodide, can also be arylated by the action of the same iron catalyst. However, the yields are somehow decreased, especially when primary alkyl chlorides are used as electrophiles (Equations 5.24 and 5.25) [33]. 

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