Ligands for transition-metal-catalyzed cross-couplings, and methods of use thereof

1. A ligand represented by I:

wherein

R is selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 ;

R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —OR 11 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , —Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 ; or any two adjacent instances of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 , taken together with the carbons to which they are bound, form a five- or six-membered substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl ring;

provided that at least two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are —OR 11 ;

R 5 , and R 9 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 ;

R 7 is selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —Si(R 11 ) 3 , —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 , —OH, —OR 11 , —NH 2 , —NHR 11 , and —N(R 11 ) 2 ;

R 6 and R 8 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl and halogen;

or any two adjacent instances of R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , or R 9 , taken together with the carbons to which they are bound, form a five- or six-membered substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl ring;

R 10 represents an unsubstituted or substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocycle, or polycycle, wherein polycycle refers to two or three rings, each ring independently selected from the group consisting of cycloalkyls, cycloalkenyls, cycloalkynyls, aryls and heterocyclyls, in which two or more carbons are shared by adjoining rings;

R 11 is selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, and heteroaralkyl;

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

the ligand is achiral or, when chiral, is a single stereoisomer or a mixture of stereoisomers.

2. The ligand of claim 1 , wherein R 5 , R 7 and R 9 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 .

3. The ligand of claim 1 , wherein R is alkyl, aryl, or cycloalkyl.

4. The ligand of claim 1 , wherein R is Cy, i-Pr, C 5 H 11 , Me, Et, 1-adamantyl, t-Bu,

5. The ligand of claim 1 , wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —OR 11 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , —Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 )R 10 .

6. The ligand of claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 4 are —OR 11 .

7. The ligand of claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 4 are —OR 11 ; and R 11 is alkyl.

8. The ligand of claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are —OR 11 .

9. The ligand of claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are —OR 11 ; and R 11 is alkyl.

10. The ligand of claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 4 are —OR 11 .

11. The ligand of claim 1 , wherein R 2 and R 4 are —OR 11 ; and R 11 is alkyl.

12. The ligand of claim 1 , wherein R 5 , R 7 and R 9 are alkyl.

13. A ligand represented by II:

wherein

R is selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 ;

R 2 and R 3 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —OR 1 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , —Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 ) m —R 11 ; or any two adjacent instances of R 2 and R 3 , taken together with the carbons to which they are bound, form a five or six-membered, substituted or unsubstituted, aryl or heteroaryl ring;

R 5 , R 7 and R 9 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 ;

R 6 and R 8 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl and halogen;

R 10 represents an unsubstituted or substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocycle, or polycycle, wherein polycycle refers to two or three rings, each ring independently selected from the group consisting of cycloalkyls, cycloalkenyls, cycloalkynyls, aryls and heterocyclyls, in which two or more carbons are shared by adjoining rings;

R 11 is selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, and heteroaralkyl;

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

the ligand is achiral or, when chiral, is a single stereoisomer or a mixture of stereoisomers.

14. The ligand of claim 13 , wherein R is alkyl, aryl, or cycloalkyl.

15. The ligand of claim 13 , wherein R is Cy, i-Pr, C 5 H 11 , Me, Et, 1-adamantyl, t-Bu,

16. The ligand of claim 13 , wherein R 11 is alkyl.

17. The ligand of claim 13 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —OR 11 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 .

18. The ligand of claim 13 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are —OR 11 .

19. The ligand of claim 13 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are —OR 11 ; and R 11 is alkyl.

20. The ligand of claim 13 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are alkyl.

21. The ligand of claim 13 , wherein R 5 , R 7 and R 9 are alkyl.

22. A ligand represented by III:

wherein

R is selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 ;

R 1 and R 4 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —OR 11 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , —Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 ;

R 5 , R 7 and R 9 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 ;

R 6 and R 8 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl and halogen;

R 10 represents an unsubstituted or substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocycle, or polycycle, wherein polycycle refers to two or three rings, each ring independently selected from the group consisting of cycloalkyls, cycloalkenyls, cycloalkynyls, aryls and heterocyclyls, in which two or more carbons are shared by adjoining rings;

R 11 is selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, and heteroaralkyl;

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

the ligand, when chiral, is a mixture of stereoisomers or a single enantiomer.

23. The ligand of claim 22 , wherein R is alkyl, aryl, or cycloalkyl.

24. The ligand of claim 22 , wherein R is Cy, i-Pr, C 5 H 11 , Me, Et, 1-adamantyl, t-Bu,

25. The ligand of claim 22 , wherein R 11 is alkyl.

26. The ligand of claim 22 , wherein R 1 and R 4 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —OR 11 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , —Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 .

27. The ligand of claim 22 , wherein R 1 and R 4 are —OR 11 .

28. The ligand of claim 22 , wherein R 1 and R 4 are —OR 11 ; and R 11 is alkyl.

29. The ligand of claim 22 , wherein R 1 and R 4 are alkyl.

30. The ligand of claim 22 , wherein R 5 , R 7 and R 9 are alkyl.

31. A ligand represented by IV:

wherein

R is selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 ;

R 1 and R 3 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —OR 11 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , —Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 ;

R 5 , R 7 and R 9 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 ) m —R 10 ;

R 6 and R 8 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl and halogen;

R 10 represents an unsubstituted or substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocycle, or polycycle, wherein polycycle refers to two or three rings, each ring independently selected from the group consisting of cycloalkyls, cycloalkenyls, cycloalkynyls, aryls and heterocyclyls, in which two or more carbons are shared by adjoining rings;

R 11 is selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, and heteroaralkyl;

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

the ligand, when chiral, is a mixture of stereoisomers or a single enantiomer.

32. The ligand of claim 31 , wherein R is alkyl, aryl, or cycloalkyl.

33. The ligand of claim 31 , wherein R is Cy, i-Pr, C 5 H 11 , Me, Et, 1-adamantyl, t-Bu,

34. The ligand of claim 31 , wherein R 11 is alkyl.

35. The ligand of claim 31 , wherein R 1 and R 3 are selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, —OR 11 , —N(R 11 ) 2 , —Si(R 11 ) 3 , and —(CH 2 )R 10 .

36. The ligand of claim 31 , wherein R 1 and R 3 are —OR 11 .

37. The ligand of claim 31 , wherein R 1 and R 3 are —OR 11 ; and R 11 is alkyl.

38. The ligand of claim 31 , wherein R 1 and R 3 are alkyl.

39. The ligand of claim 31 , wherein R 5 , R 7 and R 9 are alkyl.

40. The ligand of claim 1 , wherein said ligand is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R is selected independently for each occurrence from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, and cycloalkyl.

41. The ligand of claim 40 , wherein R is Cy, i-Pr, C 5 H 11 , Me, Et, 1-adamantyl, t-Bu,

42. The ligand of claim 40 , wherein said ligand is represented by

wherein R is Cy or t-Bu.