Scope and Mechanistic Aspect of Nickel-Catalyzed Alkenylation of Benzothiazoles and Related Azoles with Styryl Bromides

Alkenylation of benzothiazoles and related azoles with alkenyl bromides is achieved employing the well-defined and air-stable nickel complexes, (bpy)NiBr2 and [Ni(bpy)3][NiBr4], as catalysts. Numerous electronically distinct alkenyl bromides efficiently coupled with substituted benzothiazoles, oxazoles, and benzimidazoles under the catalytic conditions to afford 2-alkenylated azoles. An extensive mechanistic study of the alkenylation of benzothiazole using (bpy)NiBr2 highlights a single-electron transfer process for the reaction involving the two-step one-electron oxidative addition of alkenyl bromide. The substrate benzothiazole plays a significant and diverse role in the reaction, and C–H bond cleavage is reversible in nature. Detailed kinetic analysis and control reactivity studies are indicative of a Ni(I)/Ni(III) pathway for the alkenylation comprising the rate-influencing reductive elimination step.