Co-Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Aryl Halides to Activated Olefins

Significance

The conjugate addition of organometallic reagents to the double bond of electron-deficient olefins is a very powerful method of the formation of new C-C bonds. The authors developed a novel, very simple and convenient method of direct addition of aryl halides, including chlorides, and triflates to Michael acceptors like acrylo­nitrile and acrylate esters. Inexpensive cobalt bromide and 2,2′-bipyridine are used as catalysts. The reaction gives good yields both for electron-rich and electron-poor arenes and tolerates a number of functional groups.