Ligand-Controlled Nickel-Catalyzed Regiodivergent Cross-Electrophile Alkyl-Alkyl Couplings of Alkyl Halides

Functionalizing specific positions on a saturated alkyl molecule is a key challenge in synthetic chemistry. Herein, a ligand-controlled regiodivergent alkylations of alkyl bromides at different positions by Ni-catalyzed alkyl-alkyl cross-electrophile coupling with the second alkyl bromides has been developed. The reaction undergoes site-selective isomerization on one alkyl bromides in a controlled manner, providing switchable access to diverse alkylated structures at different sites of alkyl bromides. The reaction occurs at three similar positions with excellent chemo- and regioselectivity, representing a remarkable ligand tuned reactivity between alkyl-alkyl cross-coupling and nickel migration along the hydrocarbon side chain. This reaction offers a catalytic platform to diverse saturated architectures by alkyl-alkyl bond-formation from identical starting materials.

Automated summary

In this study, a ligand-controlled regiodivergent alkylation of alkyl bromides at different positions has been developed via Ni-catalyzed alkyl-alkyl cross-electrophile coupling with a second alkyl bromide. The reaction selectively isomerizes one alkyl bromide in a controlled manner, providing diverse alkylated structures at different sites. The reaction exhibits excellent chemo- and regioselectivity at three similar positions, showcasing the remarkable ligand-tuned reactivity between alkyl-alkyl cross-coupling and nickel migration. This reaction offers a catalytic platform for the synthesis of diverse saturated architectures from identical starting materials.