In this study, we report a highly selective coupling reaction between triarylbismuthines and isocyanides using palladium diacetate as the catalyst, affording α-diimines, with the formation of three C-C bonds. Among several aryl sources (Ar-YLn: Y = B, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, I), only triarylbismuthines successfully undergo coupling with isocyanides to selectively afford α-diimines. The coupling reaction exhibits the advantages of high atom economy and convenient operation, with no need for any additive.

SummaryA novel method of photoinduced synthesis of unsymmetrical diaryl selenides from triarylbismuthines and diaryl diselenides has been developed. Although the arylation reactions with triarylbismuthines are usually catalyzed by transition-metal complexes, the present arylation of diaryl diselenides with triarylbismuthines proceeds upon photoirradiation in the absence of transition-metal catalysts. A variety of unsymmetrical diaryl selenides can be conveniently prepared by using this arylation method.

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Using tetraaryllead compounds (PbAr4) as arylating reagents, isocyanides undergo selective diarylation in the presence of palladium catalysts such as Pd­(OAc)2 or Pd­(PPh3)4 to afford imines and/or α-diimines based on the isocyanide employed. With aliphatic isocyanides, imines are obtained preferentially, whereas α-diimines are formed in the case of electron-rich aromatic isocyanides. The differences in imine/α-diimine selectivity can be attributed to the stability of imidoylpalladium intermediates formed in this catalytic reaction. Compared with other arylating reagents, tetraaryllead compounds are excellent candidates for use in the selective transformations to imines and/or α-diimines, especially in terms of inhibiting the oligomerization of isocyanides, which results in a lower product selectivity in many transition-metal-catalyzed reactions of isocyanides.