Bismuth-Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Arylboronic Acids with Triflate and Nonaflate Salts

Herein we present a Bi-catalyzed cross-coupling of arylboronic acids with perfluoroalkyl sulfonate salts based on a Bi(III)/Bi(V) redox cycle. An electron-deficient sulfone ligand proved to be key for the successful implementation of this protocol, which allows the unusual construction of C(sp²)-O bonds using commercially available NaOTf and KONf as coupling partners. Preliminary mechanistic studies as well as theoretical investigations reveal the intermediacy of a highly electrophilic Bi(V) species, which rapidly eliminates phenyl triflate.