Cobalt-Catalyzed Borylation of Fluorinated Arenes: Thermodynamic Control of C(sp2)-H Oxidative Addition Results in ortho-to-Fluorine Selectivity

Abstract

The mechanism of C(sp2)–H borylation of fluorinated arenes with B2Pin2 (Pin = pinacolato) catalyzed by bis(phosphino)pyridine (iPrPNP) cobalt complexes was studied to understand the origins of the uniquely high ortho-to-fluorine regioselectivity observed in these reactions. Variable time normalization analysis (VTNA) of reaction time courses and deuterium kinetic isotope effect measurements established a kinetic regime wherein C(sp2)–H oxidative addition is fast and reversible. Monitoring the reaction by in situ NMR spectroscopy revealed the intermediacy of a cobalt(I)–aryl complex that was generated with the same high ortho-to-fluorine regioselectivity associated with the overall catalytic transformation. Deuterium labeling experiments and stoichiometric studies established C(sp2)–H oxidative addition of the fluorinated arene as the selectivity-determining step of the reaction. This step favors the formation of ortho-fluoroaryl cobalt intermediates due to the ortho fluorine effect, a phenomenon whereby ortho fluorine substituents stabilize transition metal–carbon bonds. Computational studies provided evidence that the cobalt–carbon bonds of the relevant intermediates in (iPrPNP)Co-catalyzed borylation are strengthened with increasing ortho fluorine substitution. The atypical kinetic regime involving fast and reversible C(sp2)–H oxidative addition in combination with the thermodynamic preference for forming cobalt–aryl bonds adjacent to fluorinated sites are the origin of the high regioselectivity in the catalytic borylation reaction.