Development of a CuCl/phosphine system to catalyze phenylation and methylation of $N$-tosyl aldimines with phenylboronic and methylboronic acids

Abstract

The addition of phenylboronic and methylboronic acids to activated aromatic aldimines was demonstrated in the presence of copper(I)–phosphine complexes. The desired products were obtained using copper chloride/phosphine, and potassium fluoride in under toluene reflux, in moderate-to-good yield and a suitable reaction time.

Keywords

• Phenylation reaction
• Methylation reaction
• Copper catalysis
• Boron reagent
• Phenylboronic acid