Iron-catalyzed Chemoselective Cross-coupling of α-Bromocarboxylic Acid Derivatives with Aryl Grignard Reagents

We have developed a simple and effective synthetic method of alpha-arylcarboxylic acid derivatives based on the iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alpha-bromocarboxylic acid derivatives with aryl Grignard reagents. The reaction proceeds smoothly at -78 degrees C in a chemoselective manner to produce the coupling product in good to excellent yields.