Utility of Organoboron Reagents in Arylation of Cyclopropanols via Chelated Pd(II) Catalysis: Chemoselective Access to β-Aryl Ketones

Organoborane reagents were investigated as coupling partners to cyclopropanol-derived beta-ketone enolates in the presence of a chelated Pd(II) catalyst. Efficient coupling of a range of electronically and sterically diverse cyclopropanols and aryl/alkenyl boronic derivatives (39 examples, 65-94% yield) could be achieved with the generation of synthetically important beta-aryl ketone intermediates in a chemoselective fashion. This reactivity paradigm, which broadens the scope of aryl donor partners to homoenolates, allows open-flask conditions, water as a cosolvent, and preparation of halogen-bearing beta-aryl ketones that are distinct from previous methods. This chelated Pd(II) catalysis appears to be different from the Pd(0) pathway, as evident from deuterium scrambling studies that could reveal differentiating protonolysis of an alpha-keto carbopalladium complex in the terminal step.