Palladium-catalyzed diastereoselective cross-coupling of two aryl halides via C–H activation: synthesis of chiral eight-membered nitrogen heterocycles.

A method for the synthesis of enantiopure eight-membered nitrogen heterocycles has been developed through diastereoselective cross-coupling of 2-iodobiphenyls with 2-bromobenzylamines. The products represent a novel type of chiral scaffold, which feature easy modification and high configurative stability and have the potential to be applied in asymmetric synthesis. Palladacycles that were formed via the C–H activation of 2-iodobiphenyls should act as the intermediates. The reaction provides a new strategy for the synthesis of medium-sized ring compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]