Premium
Facilitating the Ferration of Aromatic Substrates through Intramolecular Sodium Mediation
Author(s) -
Maddock Lewis C. H.,
Mu Manting,
Kennedy Alan R.,
GarcíaMelchor Max,
Hevia Eva
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202104275
Subject(s) - chemistry , transmetalation , amide , intramolecular force , anisole , aryl , toluene , benzene , combinatorial chemistry , photochemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , alkyl
Exploiting cooperative effects between Na and Fe II centres present in tris(amide) ferrate complexes has led to the chemoselective ferration of pentafluorobenzene, benzene, toluene, anisole, and pyridine being realised at room temperature. The importance of this bimetallic partnership is demonstrated by neither the relevant sodium amide (NaHMDS or NaTMP) nor the Fe II amide Fe(HMDS) 2 efficiently metallating these substrates under the conditions of this study. By combining NMR studies with the isolation of key intermediates and DFT calculations, we offer a possible mechanism for how these reactions take place, uncovering a surprising reaction pathway in which the metals cooperate in a synchronised manner. Although the isolated products are formally the result of Fe‐H exchange, theoretical calculations indicate that the aromatic substrates undergo Na‐H exchange followed by fast intramolecular transmetallation to Fe, thus stabilizing the newly generated aryl fragment.