Cobalt( II )‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Polyfunctional Aryl Copper Reagents with Aryl Bromides and Chlorides

Polyfunctionalized biphenyl and heteroaromatic compounds were formed in the presence of [Co(acac)2], Bu4NI, and 4-fluorostyrene (3) through a smooth cross-coupling reaction between organocopper reagents 1, prepared by the transmetalation of functionalized aryl magnesium halides with CuCN⋅2 LiCl, and aryl halides 2 that bear electron-withdrawing substituents. acac=acetylacetonate, DME=1,2-dimethoxyethane, DMPU=1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidinone.