C-heteroatom bond-formation via ni-catalyzed c-o bond cleavage

Identifier:  TDX:2341

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2341

Authors:  Zárate Sáez, Cayetana

Abstract:
While the field of cross-coupling has reached remarkable levels of sophistication, the vast majority of processes are still being conducted with organic halide counterparts. Drawbacks associated to their toxicity and the limited accessibility of densely functionalized aryl halides have prompted chemists to develop powerful, yet practical, alternatives. Among these, the utilization of phenol derivatives as coupling partners via C-O bond cleavage would be particularly rewarding due to their readily availability and benign nature. However, the high activation energy required for effecting C–O bond cleavage has become a daunting challenge when devising catalytic techniques using phenol derivatives, specially always-elusive aryl methyl ethers. At present, the vast majority of cross-coupling reactions using phenol derivatives remains confined to C–C bond formation, whereas the formation of C-heteroatom bonds has been poorly studied, likely due to the less reactivity of heteroatom-based nucleophiles. This doctoral thesis has focused on the development of new methodologies for forging C-heteroatom bonds via Ni-catalyzed C-O bond cleavage. It has been described new protocols for the silylation and borylation of aryl and benzyl esters and methyl ethers. These methodologies can be used as useful alternatives towards the synthesis of aryl and benzyl silanes and boronates, incredible important intermediates in organic synthesis. Furthermore, the discovery of unusual, yet surprising, conditions for the cleavage of C-OMe bonds have opened up new vistas towards the reactivity of aryl and benzyl methyls ethers while suggesting new activation pathways.