Iron-catalyzed chemoselective cross-coupling of primary and secondary alkyl halides with arylzinc reagents

Functional-group-compatible cross-coupling reaction of alkyl halides with arylzinc reagents takes place under iron catalysis in the presence of TMEDA, producing a variety of aromatic compounds in good to excellent yield. The pronounced effect of a magnesium salt was found to be the key to the promotion of the iron-catalyzed coupling reaction.