Selective and Mild Synthesis of Mono- and Diarylated Group 13−15 Halides Using [CuMes]n, a Readily Available, Thermally Stable Organocopper(I) Reagent

The use of mesitylcopper, a soluble, thermally stable arylcopper compound, was investigated as an alternative to less selective organolithium and Grignard reagents or toxic mercury, tin, and organozinc compounds. [CuMes] 5 ·toluene ( 1 ) was found to readily react with various main group metal halides MX n and RMX n (M = B, Sn; X = Cl, Br; R = n Bu, Ph, 1,1‘-fc) to give, depending on the stoichiometry of the reactions, monoarylated, diarylated, or mixed substituted species MesMX n - 1, Mes 2 MX n - 2, and MesRMX n - 1 ( 2 − 5 ) in high yields.