Light-promoted copper-catalyzed cage C-arylation of o-carboranes: facile synthesis of 1-aryl-o-carboranes and o-carborane-fused cyclics

Abstract

Light-promoted, copper catalyzed cage C–H arylation of o-carboranes with aryl halides has been achieved, leading to the facile synthesis of a variety of 1-aryl-o-carboranes and o-carborane-fused cyclics. This method has the following features: (1) using o-carboranes instead of prefunctionalized iodocarboranes as starting materials; (2) employing earth abundant copper as a catalyst; and (3) room-temperature reaction. Control experiments suggest that the reaction proceeds via Cu-catalyzed radical coupling.