Ni- and Fe-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of Phenol Derivatives

This review describes our laboratory’s efforts to develop transition metal-catalyzed cross-couplings of several unconventional phenol-based electrophiles. Specifically, we highlight herein the following four key transformations: (a) nickel-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura couplings of aryl pivalates, carbamates, and sulfamates to construct sp2–sp2 C–C bonds; (b) iron-catalyzed Kumada couplings of aryl carbamates and sulfamates for the assembly of sp2–sp3 C–C bonds; (c) nickel-catalyzed amination reactions of carbamates and sulfamates to build aryl C–N bonds; and (d) nickel-catalyzed reductive cleavage reactions of aryl carbamates to achieve aryl deoxygenation and a rare method for cine substitution. We expect this review will enable the greater use of unconventional phenol-based cross-coupling electrophiles in industrial settings.