Rh-catalyzed Negishi alkyl-aryl cross-coupling leading to α- or β-phosphoryl-substituted alkylarenes

The catalytic cross-coupling between ArZnX and ICH₂(CH ₂)_nP(O)(OEt)₂ (n = 0-3) has been investigated to determine the utility of the Rh catalyst during the alkyl-aryl cross-coupling and to develop a new synthetic method for phosphoryl-substituted alkylarenes. Rh-dppf exhibits an excellent catalytic activity for the reaction with the alkylphosphonate of n = 1, whereas for the reaction with those of n = 2 or 3, β-hydride elimination mainly takes place. As for the reaction with an alkylphosphonate of n = 0, a polarity inversion of the coupling components is necessary in order to provide the coupling products; the phosphoryl analogue of the Reformatsky reagent and ArI give the cross-coupling products in good yields through the catalysis by Rh-dppf.