Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling of N-heterocyclic chlorides and bromides with arylmagnesium reagents.

A simple, practical iron salt catalyzed procedure allows fast cross-couplings of N-heterocyclic chlorides and bromides with various electron-rich and -poor arylmagnesium reagents. A solvent mixture of THF and tBuOMe is found to be essential for achieving high yields mainly by avoiding homocoupling side reactions.