Alkyl-alkyl Suzuki cross-coupling of unactivated secondary alkyl chlorides.

The first method for achieving alkyl–alkyl Suzuki reactions of unactivated secondary alkyl chlorides has been developed. Carbon–carbon bond formation occurs under mild conditions (at room temperature) with the aid of commercially available catalyst components. This method has proved to be versatile: without modification, it can be applied to Suzuki reactions of secondary and primary alkyl bromides and iodides, as well as primary alkyl chlorides. Mechanistic investigations suggest that oxidative addition is not the turnover-limiting step of the catalytic cycle for unactivated secondary alkyl iodides and bromides, whereas it may be (partially) for chlorides.