Synthesis of Nitro‐Substituted Polyfunctional Biphenyls by Negishi Cross‐Coupling of o‐Nitroarylzinc Reagents

The iodine‐magnesium exchange reaction allows the preparation of polyfunctional arylmagnesium species bearing a nitro group in the ortho‐position. After transmetalation to the corresponding arylzinc compound, these organometallics undergo a palladium‐catalyzed Negishi cross‐coupling with various aryl iodides to provide polyfunctional biphenyls bearing nitro groups in moderate to good yields.