Alkyl halides underwent unique cross-coupling reaction with vinylmagnesium chloride in the presence of Ni catalyst to give 2-alkyl-3-butenyl Grignard reagent (1) in high yields. This reaction proceeded efficiently at 25 degrees C in THF using primary and secondary alkyl fluorides. On the other hand, PhCH=CHMgBr gave double alkylative vinyl coupling product 4 in good yield as the sole coupling product. Alkyl fluorides react as the most suitable alkylating reagent in comparison to the corresponding chlorides, bromides, and iodides.

This account summarizes our recent results on C-C bond formation reactions using alkyl fluorides mostly focusing on the transition-metal-catalyzed reactions. These reactions proceed efficiently under mild conditions by the combined use of Grignard reagents and transition-metal catalysts, such as Ni, Cu, and Zr. It is proposed that ate complex intermediates formed by the reaction of these transition metals with Grignard reagents play important roles as the active catalytic species. Organoaluminun reagents react directly with alkyl fluorides in nonpolar solvents at room temperature to form C-C bonds. These studies demonstrate the practical usefulness of alkyl fluorides in C-C bond formation reactions and provide a promising method for the construction of carbon frameworks employing alkyl fluorides. The scope and limitations, as well as reaction pathways, are discussed.

A new method for a carbon-silicon or carbon-carbon bond forming reaction between allyl ethers and chlorosilanes, alkyl tosylates, or alkyl halides giving rise to allylsilanes or alkenes has been developed. This reaction proceeds efficiently at ambient temperature by the combined use of nickel catalysts and a vinyl-Grignard reagent. A possible reaction pathway involving the formation of allylGrignard reagents via transmetallation of p-allylnickel complexes with the vinyl-Grignard reagent and subsequent trapping of the thus formed allylGrignard reagents with electrophiles is proposed.

Symmetrical 1,4-disilyl-2-butenes 1 have been prepared by the reaction of vinyl Grignard reagent with chlorosilanes. This reaction proceeds efficiently in the presence of a catalytic amount of titanocene dichloride at 0 degrees C in THF. When dichlorodiphenylsilane was used, 1,1-diphenyl-1-silacyclo-3-pentene 2 was obtained in a good yield.

Aryl-substituted alkenes (ArHC=CH2) react with alkyl halides (R–X, X = Br or Cl) in the presence of a catalytic amount of [Cp2TiCl2] and nBuMgCl in Et2O to give alkylated alkenes (ArHC=CHR). This reaction proceeds regio- and stereoselectively under mild conditions to afford E-olefins. Primary and secondary alkyl bromides and secondary alkyl chlorides can be used as suitable alkylating reagents. The reactions of aliphatic alkenes, such as 1-octene and internal alkenes, were sluggish. When t-alkyl halides are employed, alkylative dimerization of alkenes proceeds exclusively to give symmetrical vic-diarylalkanes. These reactions involve addition of alkyl radicals to arylalkenes to form benzyl radicals as a carbon–carbon bond-forming step. Dimerization of thus formed benzyl radicals affords symmetrical alkanes and β-hydrogen elimination from benzyltitanocene intermediates gives alkylated alkenes. A possibility that titanocene activates alkenes as radical accepters was also proposed.