The hydantoin moiety
is an important structural motif
present in
various pharmaceuticals. Palladium complexes bearing electron-rich,
bulky ylide-functionalized phosphine (YPhos) ligands were found to
catalyze the arylation of N-protected hydantoins
with broadly available aryl chlorides. Selective monoarylations, sequential
diarylations, and arylation-alkylation sequences have been achieved.
In combination with stepwise deprotection strategies, this opens up
an expedient access to a wide variety of hydantoins, including derivatives
of the anticonvulsant drugs phenytoin and mephenytoin.