Coupling reaction of zirconacyclopentadienes with dihalonaphthalenes and dihalopyridines: A new procedure for the preparation of substituted anthracenes, quinolines, and isoquinolines

Reactions of tetraiodobenzene with zirconacyclopentadienes, which were conveniently prepared from two alkynes (or diynes) and zirconocene complexes, afforded 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted diiodonaphthalene derivatives in good isolated yields. These 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted diiodonaphthalene derivatives could be converted to 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octasubstituted anthracene derivatives by reaction with a second zirconacyclopentadiene. When the two zirconacyclopentadienes were different, unsymmetrical anthracenes such as 1,2,3,4-tetraethyl-5,6,7,8-tetraphenylanthracene (68% isolated yield) were obtained. On the other hand, treatment of a 2,3-dihalopyridine such as 2-bromo-3-iodopyridine with zirconacyclopentadienes gave 5,6,7,8-tetrasubstituted quinoline derivatives in good to high yields. 3,4-Dihalopyridines such as 4-chloro-3-iodopyridine reacted with zirconacyclopentadienes to afford 5,6,7,8-tetrasubstituted isoquinoline derivatives in good to high yields.