Ligands for metals and improved metal-catalyzed processes based thereon

1. A method for forming a compound represented by Ar—Ar′, comprising the step of:

combining a compound represented by ArX, a compound represented by Ax′B(OH) 2 , a transition metal, a ligand and a base; wherein

Ar and Ar′ are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic and heteroaromatic moieties;

X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, —OS(O) 2 alkyl, and —OS(O) 2 aryl;

the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of the Group VIIIA metals;

the ligand is selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by 2:

wherein

Q represent P(R) 2 ;

Y represents H, alkyl, N(R) 2 , OR, or SR;

R, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , and R 8 , independently for each occurrence represent hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxyl, alkoxyl, silyloxy, amino, nitro, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, imino, carboxamido, phosphoryl, phosphonate, phosphine, carbonyl, carboxyl, silyl, thioalkyl, alkylsulfonyl, alrylsulfonyl, selenoalkyl, formyl, acyl, aldehyde, ester, heteroalkyl, nitrile, guanidine, amidine, acetal, ketal, amine oxide, aryl, heteroaryl, azide, aziridine, carbamate, epoxide, hydroxamic acid, imide, oxime, sulfonamide, thioamide, thiocarbamate, urea, thiourea, or —(CH 2 ) m —R 80 ;

R 80 represents independently for each occurrence an unsubstituted or substituted aryl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, a heterocycle, or a polycycle;

m is independently for each occurrence an integer in the range 0 to 8 inclusive; and

the ligand, when chiral, may be provided in the form of a mixture of enantiomers or as a single enantiomer; and

the base is selected from the group consisting of carbonates, phosphates, fluorides, alkoxides, amides, carbanions, and silyl anions.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the transition metal is palladium; and

the base is an alkoxide, amide, fluoride, phosphate, or carbonate.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein

Y is hydrogen, and Q represents P(alkyl) 2 ; and

X represents Cl or Br.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the transition metal is palladium;

Q represents P(alkyl) 2 ; Y represents H or N(alkyl) 2 ; and

the base is an alkoxide, amide, carbonate, or fluoride.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein:

X represents Cl or Br; and

the reaction occurs at room temperature.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , and R 8 represent hydrogen; Q represents P(t-Bu) 2 or PCy 2 ; Y represents H or NMe 2 ; the transition metal is palladium; and the base is cesium fluoride or potassium fluoride.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product is provided in a yield of greater than 50%.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product is provided in a yield of greater than 70%.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product is provided in a yield of greater than 85%.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reaction occurs at ambient temperature.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transition metal and the ligand are independently present in less than 0.01 mol % relative to the limiting reagent.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transition metal and the ligand are independently present in less than 0.0001 mol % relative to the limiting reagent.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein X is chloride.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the limiting reagent is consumed in less than 48 hours.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the limiting reagent is consumed in less than 24 hours.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the limiting reagent is consumed in less than 12 hours.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the yield of the product is greater than 50% in less than 48 hours.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the yield of the product is greater than 50% in less than 24 hours.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the yield of the product is greater than 50% in less than 12 hours.