Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of bulky anthracenyl carboxylates by using pincer nickel N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: an efficient protocol to access fluorescent anthracene derivatives

Abstract

A series of fluorescent (hetero)-aryl substituted anthracene derivatives were readily accessible from the corresponding bulky anthracen-9-yl carboxylates via Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions by using pincer nickel N-heterocyclic carbene complex 1 even at the catalyst loading as low as 0.1 mol% in the presence of catalytic amounts of PCy₃.