In memory of Prof. Dr. Kilian Muñiz
A halogen–lithium exchange reaction of (hetero)aromatic halides performed in the presence
of various electrophiles such as aldehydes, ketones, Weinreb amides, and imines using
BuLi as exchange reagent and a commercially available flow set-up is reported. The
organolithiums generated in situ were instantaneously trapped with various electrophiles
(Barbier conditions) resulting in the formation of polyfunctional (hetero)arenes.
This method enables the functionalization of (hetero)arenes containing highly sensitive
functional groups such as esters, which are not tolerated in batch conditions.
Key words
heterocycles - flow chemistry - organolithiums - Barbier reaction - halogen–lithium
exchange