Competitive gold/nickel transmetalation†
Abstract
Transmetalation is a key method for the construction of element–element bonds. Here, we disclose the reactivity of [NiII(Ar)(I)(diphosphine)] compounds with arylgold(I) transmetalating agents, which is directly relevant to cross-coupling catalysis. Both aryl-for-iodide and unexpected aryl-for-aryl transmetalation are witnessed. Despite the strong driving force expected for Au–I bond formation, aryl scrambling can occur during transmetalation and may complicate the outcomes of attempted catalytic cross-coupling reactions.
- This article is part of the themed collection: Boron Chemistry in the 21st Century: From Synthetic Curiosities to Functional Molecules