Wu Xianqing, Li Xiaobin, Huang Wenyi, Wang Yun, Xu Hui, Cai Liangzhen, Qu Jingping, Chen Yifeng
Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering , East China University of Science & Technology , 130 Meilong Road , Shanghai , 200237 , China.
Org Lett. 2019 Apr 5;21(7):2453-2458. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.9b00774. Epub 2019 Mar 18.
A direct transformation of aryl esters to secondary benzylic alcohols via tandem Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of aromatic 2-pyridyl esters with alkyl zinc reagents and carbonyl group reduction by Ni-H species is achieved. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that the Ni-H species is generated in situ via β-hydride elimination of the Negishi reagents. The reaction is catalyzed by bench-stable nickel salts under mild conditions with wide functional group tolerance.
