Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of sterically hindered 1-bromomethyl-o-carborane with alkyl and aryl Grignard reagents

A convenient and efficient Ni-catalyzed reaction has been developed for synthesis of mono-substituted o -carboranes, involving cross-coupling of readily available and sterically hindered 1-bromomethyl- o -carborane with various alkyl and aryl Grignard reagents under mild conditions, and the corresponding o -carborane derivatives were obtained in good to excellent yields. This method should provide a new strategy for construction of diverse and useful functionalized boron cluster compounds for medicinal chemistry and material chemistry.