Transition metal catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl Grignard reagents with aryl fluorides via Pd- or Ni-activation of the C–F bond: an efficient synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryls – application of microwave technology in ligand and catalyst screening

Biaryl compounds are prevalent in both nature and in active pharmaceutical ingredients. The palladium and nickel catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl Grignard reagents with aryl fluorides reported herein affords moderate to excellent yields of the corresponding unsymmetrical biaryls. In addition, the first example of a biaryl cross-coupling utilizing unactivated aryl fluorides under phosphine free palladium conditions is reported. Microwave technology allowed rapid optimization of catalyst systems, which identified several ligands for this cross-coupling reaction.