Organocopper cross-coupling reaction for C–C bond formation on highly sterically hindered structures

We describe a powerful, broadly applicable cross-coupling protocol that enables carbon–carbon bond formation at highly sterically hindered carbon centers (both sp(2) and sp(3)) by employing organocopper reagents under palladium catalysis. Experimental studies and theoretical calculations indicated that the key to the unique reactivity of copper is the relatively low activation energy of the compact transmetalation transition state, due to Cu(i)–Pd(ii) interaction, which is associated with small values of deformation energy of the reactants. This reaction is applicable to a variety of bulky substrates, including compounds inert to previous cross-coupling chemistry and has high functional group tolerance.