N-Arylation of nitrogen heterocycles with 2,4-difluoroiodobenzene

Arylation reactions of NH-heterocycles [specifically, pyrazole, 3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole, imidazole and pyrrole] with 2,4-difluoroiodobenzene in the absence and presence of copper catalysis are described. The combination of fluor and iodo substituents in the same aryl substrate has facilitated both SNAr reactions at the C-F bonds and copper-catalysed Ullmann-type coupling reactions at the C-I bond. Products arising from regioselective reactions and multiple substitutions have been isolated, providing a range of new N-arylated pyrazole, imidazole and pyrrole derivatives. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.