The ubiquity of phenols makes them attractive starting materials for the preparation of elaborated aromatic targets. Although triflates have historically been used to enable aryl C�O activation, recent efforts have focused on use of less expensive, greener alternatives. We report the first Heck cross coupling of aryl pivalates with a variety of olefin partners. This method represents one of the first examples of a C�C cross coupling with a nonorganometallic coupling partner via activation of a strong C�O bond. It enables the transformation of phenol-based substrates into styrenyl products without generation of a halogenated byproduct or the use of expensive triflate groups. Our recent efforts to develop other cross couplings via C�O bond activation will also be discussed.

Nickel-catalyzed Heck cross couplings via activation of strong C–O bonds

244th National Meeting (2012)

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