Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of 2-fluorobenzofurans with arylboronic acids via aromatic C–F bond activation

Abstract

2-Fluorobenzofurans underwent efficient nickel-catalyzed coupling with arylboronic acids through the activation of aromatic C–F bonds. This method allowed us to successfully synthesize a range of 2-arylbenzofurans with various substituents. The reaction, which proceeded under mild conditions, involved β-fluorine elimination from nickelacyclopropanes formed by the interaction of 2-fluorobenzofurans with zero-valent nickel species. This protocol facilitates orthogonal coupling reactions of aromatic C–F and C–Br bonds with arylboronic acids.

Keywords

• arylboronic acid
• benzofuran
• c–f bond activation
• cross-coupling
• nickel