One-pot synthesis of ferrocenyl ketones containing biaryls and 6-aryl-2-ferrocenylquinolines via Ir/Pd-cocatalyzed α-alkylation/Suzuki reaction.

An efficient PPh3-cyclometalated iridium(III) benzo[h]quinoline hydride 1/Pd(OAc)2-cocatalyzed three-component α-alkylation/Suzuki reaction has been developed. The three-component reaction of 4-bromobenzyl alcohol, acetylferrocene, and arylboronic acids gives ferrocenyl ketones containing biaryls in moderate to good yields. This method was successfully applied to a one-pot synthesis of 6-aryl-2-ferrocenyl quinolines, using (2-amino-5-bromophenyl)methanol instead of 4-bromobenzyl alcohol.