Transition-Metal-Free Direct α-Arylation of Weinreb-type Amides with Arylboronic Acids Through Aza-oxyallyl Cation Intermediates

Here, we report an efficient transition-metal-free C(sp)-C(sp) Suzuki-Miyaura-type cross-coupling between α-halo Weinreb-type amides and arylboronic acids. The reaction is carried out by capturing active aza-oxyallyl cation (AOAC) with arylboronic acid to form a boron "ate" complex, followed by 1,4-migration to give α-aryl amides with good yields.