Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2011, 7, 1064–1069.
tors (R1, R2, and R3) were used, as shown in Figure 3. A solu-
tion of p-bromoanisole (Ar–X) (0.10 M in THF, flow rate: 6.0
mL/min) and a solution of n-butyllithium (0.42 M in hexane,
flow rate: 1.5 mL/min) were introduced to M1 ( = 250 μm)
by syringe pumps. The resulting mixture was passed through
R1 (tR1 = 13 s (−78 °C), tR1 = 13 s (−48 °C), tR1 = 3.1 s (−28
°
C), tR1 = 3.1 s (0 °C), tR1 = 3.1 s (24 °C)) at the corresponding
temperatures and was mixed with a solution of FeCl3 (0.10 M in
THF, flow rate: 6.0 mL/min) in M2 ( = 500 μm). The
resulting mixture was passed through R2 and was then mixed
with methanol (neat, flow rate: 1.5 mL/min) in M3 ( = 500
μm) to protonate the unchanged p-methoxyphenyllithium. The
resulting solution was passed through R3 ( = 1000 μm, L =
5
0 cm). The temperature (T) was controlled by adjusting the
bath temperature, and the residence time in R2 (tR2) by
changing the inner diameter and the length in R2 with the fixed
flow rate. After a steady state was reached, the product solution
and T are summarized in Figure 4, in which the yield of 4,4'-
for details). The yield depends on both T and tR2. At −78 °C, the
yield increased with tR2 because of the progress of the homo-
Figure 4: Effects of the temperature (T) and the residence time in R2
(tR2) on the yield of 4,4'-dimethoxybiphenyl in the oxidative homocou-
pling of p-methoxyphenyllithium with FeCl3 in the integrated flow
microreactor system. Contour plot with scatter overlay of the yields of
4,4'-dimethoxybiphenyl (%), which are indicated by small circles.
coupling. At 0 °C, the homocoupling product was obtained in mediates can be rapidly generated and transferred to another
reasonable yields for a wide range of tR2. The productivity of location to be used in a subsequent reaction before they decom-
the present system is acceptable for large scale laboratory syn- pose. We have already reported the generation and reactions of
thesis (6.2 g/h). It is noteworthy that the integrated reactions unstable aryllithium species such as o-bromophenyllithiums,
at low temperatures such as −48 °C. Thus, we envisaged that ketone carbonyl groups [86,87,93,95,96,98], which are difficult
pounds that decompose very quickly.
Table 1, reactions of aryllithiums bearing cyano and nitro
groups proceeded successfully to give the corresponding homo-
One of the major benefits of flow microreactor synthesis is the coupling products, where in contrast it is very difficult to
ability to use highly unstable reactive intermediates. Such inter- achieve such reactions using conventional batch reactors. A
mechanism involving transmetalation of the aryl group from
lithium to iron followed by reductive elimination of the homo-
coupling product seems to be plausible, while a similar mecha-
pounds with FeCl3 [19,20]. The regiospecificity of the coupling
is consistent with this mechanism. Radical coupling seems to be
less likely.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we found that the use of FeCl3 results in fast
oxidative homocoupling of aryllithiums, which enables its inte-
Figure 3: Integrated flow microreactor system for oxidative homocou-
pling reaction of aryllithium with FeCl3. T-shaped micromixer: M1
gration with the halogen–lithium exchange of aryl halides.
Various aryl halides, including those bearing electrophilic func-
tional groups, can be used for this transformation in the inte-
grated flow microreactor system. Hence, the method greatly
enhances the synthetic utility of aryllithium compounds and
adds a new dimension to the chemistry of coupling reactions.
(
inner diameter: 250 μm), M2 (inner diameter: 500 μm), and M3 (inner
diameter: 500 μm), microtube reactor: R1, R2 and R3 ( = 1000 μm,
length = 50 cm), a solution of aryl halides: 0.10 M in THF (6.0 mL/min),
a solution of lithium reagent: 0.42 M in hexane (n-BuLi) or Et2O (PhLi)
(1.5 mL/min), a solution of FeCl3: 0.10 M in THF (6 mL/min), a solu-
tion of methanol: Neat (1.5 mL/min).
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