Are Phosphines Viable Ligands for Pd-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation Reactions? Contrasting Insights from a Survey of Six Reactions

Abstract

Phosphines are the broadest and most important class of ligands in homogeneous catalysis, but they are typically avoided in Pd-catalyzed aerobic oxidation reactions because of their susceptibility to oxidative degradation. Recent empirical reaction-development efforts have led to a growing number of Pd/phosphine catalyst systems for aerobic oxidative coupling reactions, but few of these studies have assessed the fate of the phosphine ligand. Here, we assess six different oxidative coupling reactions, including the homocoupling of boronic acids, amino- and alkoxycarbonylation reactions, intramolecular C–H annulation, and enantioselective Fujiwara–Moritani C–C coupling. The fate and role of the phosphine, analyzed by 31P NMR spectroscopy throughout the reaction time course in each case, varies in different reactions. In one case, the phosphine has an inhibitory effect and leads to lower selectivity relative to ligand-free conditions. In other cases, the phosphine ligands have a beneficial effect on the reac...