Ligands for metals and improved metal-catalyzed processes based thereon

1. A method, comprising the step of: combining a compound represented by ArX, a compound represented by HN(R′)R″, a catalyst complex comprising a transition metal and a ligand, and a base, thereby forming a compound represented by ArN(R′)R″:

wherein

Ar is 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;

R′ and R″ are selected, independently for each occurrence, from the group consisting of H, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, alkoxyl, amino, trialkylsilyl, and triarylsilyl;

R′ and R″, taken together, may form an optionally substituted ring consisting of 3-10 backbone atoms inclusive; said ring optionally comprising one or two heteroatoms beyond the nitrogen to which R′ and R″ are bonded;

R′ and/or R″ may be covalently linked to Ar;

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, arylsulfonyl, 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 hydrides, carbonates, phosphates, 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, 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:

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

the transition metal is palladium; and

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

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

X represents Cl or Br.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein: HN(R′)R″ represents an optionally substituted heteroaromatic compound.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein: X represents Cl; Q represents P(t-Bu) 2 or PCy 2 ; Y represents H or NMe 2 ; the transition metal is palladium; and the base is an alkoxide, amide, phosphate, or carbonate.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein: X represents Br or I; Q represents P(t-Bu) 2 or PCy 2 ; Y represents H or NMe 2 ; the transition metal is palladium; the base is an alkoxide, amide, phosphate, or carbonate; and the transformation occurs at room temperature.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein: R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , and R 8 , independently for each occurrence represent hydrogen; the transition metal is palladium; and the base is an alkoxide, amide, phosphate, or carbonate.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein: X represents Cl; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , and R 8 , independently for each occurrence represent hydrogen; the transition metal is palladium; and the base is an alkoxide, amide, phosphate, or carbonate.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transition metal is palladium; and the base is an alkoxide or phosphate.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein: X represents Cl; 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 an alkoxide or phosphate.

13. 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 sodium tert-butoxide or potassium phosphate.

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

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

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

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

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst complex is present in less than 0.01 mol % relative to ArX or HN(R′)R″, whichever is the limiting reagent.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst complex is present in less than 0.0001 mol % relative to ArX or HN(R′)R″, whichever is the limiting reagent.

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

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein ArX or whichever is the limiting reagent, is consumed in less than 48 hours.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein ArX or whichever is the limiting reagent, is consumed in less than 24 hours.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein ArX or whichever is the limiting reagent, is consumed in less than 12 hours.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the yield of ArN(R′)R″ is greater than 50% in less than 48 hours.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the yield of ArN(R′)R″ is greater than 50% in less than 24 hours.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the yield of ArN(R′)R″ is greater than 50% in less than 12 hours.