Development of Versatile Sulfone Electrophiles for Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling Reactions

The development of fluorinated sulfone derivatives as versatile electrophiles for Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions is described. Introducing electron-withdrawing groups on the aryl ring of the sulfone facilitates the Pd-catalyzed activation of C–SO2 bonds. Cross-coupling reactions with fluorinated sulfone electrophiles are reported, leading to a variety of multiply arylated products in good yields. The reactivity of this unusual electrophile is benchmarked versus common electrophiles and its use in iterative cross-couplings for concise synthesis of biologically active molecules is described.