Pd-Catalyzed Multidehydrogenative Cross-Coupling between (Hetero)Arenes and Nitroethane to Construct β-Aryl Nitroethylenes

The Pd-catalyzed multidehydrogenative cross-coupling reactions of arenes with nitroethane are described. The established methods afford β-aryl nitroethylenes that are an important class of synthetic intermediates and biologically active compounds in an atom- and step-economical fashion. The reactions were applicable to substituted benzenes and a variety of heterocycles such as benzothiophenes, benzofurans, and indoles. Mechanistic experiments indicated that β-nitroethylbenzene might be the intermediate in this transformation.