Ni-Catalyzed Deamination Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Katritzky Salts with Halides via C–N Bond Activation

This work describes the first Ni-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling of alkylpyridinium salts, derived from the corresponding amines, with aryl iodide, bromoalkyne or bromoalkyl coupling partners. C(sp)-C(sp³), C(sp²)-C(sp³) and C(sp³)-C(sp³) bond formation was achieved to afford a variety of synthetically useful arenes, alkynes and alkanes in good yields from2-33. The advantages of the methodology are showcased in the two-step synthesis of the key lactonic moiety of (+)-Compactin and (+)-Mevinolin from commercially available starting materials. A one-pot procedure without isolation of alkylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate salt was also demonstrated to be successful. This work represents a new strategy for the cross-coupling reaction of two electrophiles, and also provides a complementary and highly valuable vista for the current methodologies of alkyl arene/alkyne/alkane synthesis.