COBALT-CATALYZED C−H BORYLATION OF ELECTRON-RICH ARENES: THE POWER OF h6-METAL-ARENE COORDINATION

Abstract

C−H bond functionalization is an important transformation of broad utility for chemical synthesis. Using transition metal catalysts, like cobalt, allows for the synthesis of new molecules from electron-rich arenes. This research reports the synthesis of 6-coordinated arene-chromium tricarbonyl complexes that are able to undergo cobalt-catalyzed C−H borylation. Furthermore, this work finds that these 6-coordinated complexes can catalytically compete with known reactive substrates, like fluoroarenes. These reactions can be used to synthesize new molecules from aromatic molecules with electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents, which has previously been proven very difficult. These new molecules have applications in the pharmaceutical, agriculture, and materials industries.