Nickel-catalyzed C-H alkylations: Direct secondary alkylations and trifluoroethylations of arenes

Abstract

A versatile nickel catalyst allowed for C-H alkylations of unactivated arenes with challenging secondary alkyl bromides and chlorides. The high catalytic efficacy also set the stage for direct secondary alkylations of indoles as well as C-H trifluoroethylations with ample substrate scope. In an absence of activation: A robust nickel(II) catalyst enabled secondary alkylations of unactivated aryl C-H bonds with secondary alkyl bromides and chlorides with ample substrate scope. Based on this system the first C-H trifluoroethylations of arenes with unactivated C-H bonds could be carried out (see scheme; Q=8-quinolinyl). Copyright © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.