Cobalt-Catalyzed Biaryl Couplings via C-F Bond Activation in the Absence of Phosphine or NHC Ligands

A highly general and selective Co-catalyzed biaryl coupling through C-F cleavage under phosphine or NHC-free conditions was described. A broad range of aryl fluorides including unactivated fluorides as well as those with sensitive functionalities could couple with various Ti(OEt)(4)-mediated aryl Grignard reagents with high selectivity under the catalysis of CoCl2/DMPU. Importantly, selective C-F bond activation couplings between two types of fluorines (difluorinated aromatics and on two different coupling partners) and in the presence of C-Cl or C-Br bonds could also be achieved.