1-Bromo-4-iodobenzene → 1-Benzyl-4-bromobenzene

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of 21 mL (42 mmol, 2.0M in THF) of benzylmagnesium chloride at room temperature under nitrogen was added a solution of 6.80 g (50.0 mmol) of thrice-fused zinc chloride, in 50 mL of THF. The resulting tan slurry was stirred for 1 hour. To this slurry was added 10.0 g (35.3 mmol) 1-bromo-4-iodobenzene and 450 mg (0.4 mmol) of tetrakis(tri-phenylphosphine)palladium in 30 mL of THF. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours and then quenched with 50 mL of 2M hydro-chloric acid. The mixture was extracted thrice with hexanes, the extracts combined, washed once with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and once with 10% sodium thiosulfate. The organic extract was dried (MgSO4) and evaporated. The crude product was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (5×25 cm column, hexanes as elutent) to give 7.05 g (80%) of title compound as a colorless oil.

Provenance & Evidence