Chemical reaction in which two molecules are joined due to a metal catalyst
In organic chemistry, a cross-coupling reaction is a reaction where two different fragments are joined. Cross-couplings are a subset of the more general coupling reactions. Often cross-coupling reactions require metal catalysts. One important reaction type is this:
R−M + R'−X → R−R' + MX (R, R' = organic fragments, usually aryl; M = main group center such as Li or MgX; X = halide)
Many mechanisms exist reflecting the myriad types of cross-couplings, including those that do not require metal catalysts.[7] Often, however, cross-coupling refers to a metal-catalyzed reaction of a nucleophilic partner with an electrophilic partner.
In such cases, the mechanism generally involves reductive elimination of R-R' from LnMR(R') (L = spectator ligand). This intermediate LnMR(R') is formed in a two step process from a low valence precursor LnM. The oxidative addition of an organic halide (RX) to LnM gives LnMR(X). Subsequently, the second partner undergoes transmetallation with a source of R'−. The final step is reductive elimination of the two coupling fragments to regenerate the catalyst and give the organic product. Unsaturated substrates, such as C(sp)−X and C(sp2)−X bonds, couple more easily, in part because they add readily to the catalyst.
Catalysts
Catalysts are often based on palladium, which is frequently selected due to high functional group tolerance. Organopalladium compounds are generally stable towards water and air. Palladium catalysts can be problematic for the pharmaceutical industry, which faces extensive regulation regarding heavy metals. Many pharmaceutical chemists attempt to use coupling reactions early in production to minimize metal traces in the product.[8]Heterogeneous catalysts based on Pd are also well developed.[9]
Copper-based catalysts are also common, especially for coupling involving heteroatom-C bonds.[10][11]
Iron-,[12] cobalt-,[13] and nickel-based[14] catalysts have been investigated.
Leaving groups
The leaving group X in the organic partner is usually a halide, although triflate, tosylate, pivalate esters, and other pseudohalides have been used.[15] Chloride is an ideal group due to the low cost of organochlorine compounds. Frequently, however, C–Cl bonds are too inert, and bromide or iodide leaving groups are required for acceptable rates. The main group metal in the organometallic partner usually is an electropositive element such as tin, zinc, silicon, or boron.
Carbon–carbon cross-coupling
Many cross-couplings entail forming carbon–carbon bonds.
Cross-coupling reactions are important for the production of pharmaceuticals,[4] examples being montelukast, eletriptan, naproxen, varenicline, and resveratrol.[21] with Suzuki coupling being most widely used.[22] Some polymers and monomers are also prepared in this way.[23]
Reviews
Fortman, George C.; Nolan, Steven P. (2011). "N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands and palladium in homogeneous cross-coupling catalysis: a perfect union". Chemical Society Reviews. 40 (10): 5151–69. doi:10.1039/c1cs15088j. PMID21731956.
Yin; Liebscher, Jürgen (2007). "Carbon−Carbon Coupling Reactions Catalyzed by Heterogeneous Palladium Catalysts". Chemical Reviews. 107 (1): 133–173. doi:10.1021/cr0505674. PMID17212474. S2CID36974481.
Molnár, Árpád (2011). "Efficient, Selective, and Recyclable Palladium Catalysts in Carbon−Carbon Coupling Reactions". Chemical Reviews. 111 (3): 2251–2320. doi:10.1021/cr100355b. PMID21391571.
^New Trends in Cross-Coupling: Theory and Applications Thomas Colacot (Editor) 2014 ISBN978-1-84973-896-5
^ abKing, A. O.; Yasuda, N. (2004). "Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions in the Synthesis of Pharmaceuticals". Organometallics in Process Chemistry. Topics in Organometallic Chemistry. Vol. 6. Heidelberg: Springer. pp. 205–245. doi:10.1007/b94551. ISBN978-3-540-01603-8.
^Johansson Seechurn, Carin C. C.; Kitching, Matthew O.; Colacot, Thomas J.; Snieckus, Victor (2012). "Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling: A Historical Contextual Perspective to the 2010 Nobel Prize". Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 51 (21): 5062–5085. doi:10.1002/anie.201107017. PMID22573393. S2CID20582425.
^Evano, Gwilherm; Blanchard, Nicolas; Toumi, Mathieu (2008). "Copper-Mediated Coupling Reactions and Their Applications in Natural Products and Designed Biomolecules Synthesis". Chemical Reviews. 108 (8): 3054–3131. doi:10.1021/cr8002505. PMID18698737.
^Robin B. Bedford (2015). "How Low Does Iron Go? Chasing the Active Species in Fe-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions". Acc. Chem. Res. 48 (5): 1485–1493. doi:10.1021/acs.accounts.5b00042. PMID25916260.
^Cahiez, GéRard; Moyeux, Alban (2010). "Cobalt-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions". Chemical Reviews. 110 (3): 1435–1462. doi:10.1021/cr9000786. PMID20148539.
^Jennifer X. Qiao; Patrick Y.S. Lam (2011). "Recent Advances in Chan–Lam Coupling Reaction: Copper-Promoted C–Heteroatom Bond Cross-Coupling Reactions with Boronic Acids and Derivatives". In Dennis G. Hall (ed.). Boronic Acids: Preparation and Applications in Organic Synthesis, Medicine and Materials. Wiley-VCH. pp. 315–361. doi:10.1002/9783527639328.ch6. ISBN9783527639328.
^Cornils, Boy; Börner, Armin; Franke, Robert; Zhang, Baoxin; Wiebus, Ernst; Schmid, Klaus (2017). "Hydroformylation". Applied Homogeneous Catalysis with Organometallic Compounds. pp. 23–90. doi:10.1002/9783527651733.ch2. ISBN9783527328970.
^Roughley, Stephen D.; Jordan, Allan M. (2011). "The Medicinal Chemist's Toolbox: An Analysis of Reactions Used in the Pursuit of Drug Candidates". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 54 (10): 3451–3479. doi:10.1021/jm200187y. PMID21504168.
^Hartwig, J. F. Organotransition Metal Chemistry, from Bonding to Catalysis; University Science Books: New York, 2010. ISBN1-891389-53-X