Frederick A. Hicks

The Use of Catalytic Amounts of CuCl and Other Improvements in the Benzyne Route to Biphenyl-Based Phosphine Ligands

Biphenyl-based phosphine ligands can be prepared on a significantly larger scale than previously possible as a result of the following discoveries and improvements to the original experimental procedure: the finding that CuCl catalyzes the coupling of hindered dialkylchlorophosphines with Grignard reagents; the development of conditions that permit ClPCy2 to be prepared and utilized in situ; the development of a more reliable large-scale preparation of 2-dimethylaminophenylmagnesium halide.

A Nitrogen-Assisted One-Pot Heteroaryl Ketone Synthesis from Carboxylic Acids and Heteroaryl Halides

A practical and highly effective one-pot synthesis of versatile heteroaryl ketones directly from carboxylic acids and heteroaryl halides under mild conditions is reported. This method does not require derivatization of carboxylic acids (preparation of acid chlorides, Weinreb amides, etc.) or the use of any additives/catalysts. A wide substrate scope of carboxylic acids with high functional group tolerance has also been demonstrated. The results reveal that the presence of an α-nitrogen on the halide substrate greatly improves the desired ketone formation.