Effective bismuth(III)-promoted barbier-grignard-type reactions of bromides with aldehydes

Abstract

A highly versatile and efficient method has been developed for the Barbier-Grignard-type arylation and alkylation of aldehydes using unactivated bromides and Mg in tetrahydrofuran at 65℃ promoted by BiCl3 and PPh3. This method has offered high yields of 61%~99% mostly, mild reaction conditions, short reaction time, easy workup and a one-pot procedure. The steric, electronic effects and some new results have been discussed. A possible mechanism catalyzed by BiCl3 and Ph3P was reasonably proposed.