Regioselective Iron-Catalysed Cross-Coupling Reaction of Aryl Propargylic Bromides and Aryl Grignard Reagents

An iron-catalysed Kumada-type cross-coupling reaction between aryl substituted propargylic bromides and arylmagnesium reagents has been developed. Propargylic coupling products were the main or only outcome, and propargyl/allene regioselectivity was shown to depend on the electronic nature of the substituents on the triple bond of the substrate and on the arylmagnesium halide. Best selectivities were observed when electron donating substituents were present in either reagent. The process is stereoespecific, occurs with configuration inversion and no carbon-based radicals seem to be involved in the mechanism.