Palladium-catalyzed C-H activation/cross-coupling of pyridine N-oxides with nonactivated secondary alkyl bromides.

An unexpected C-H activation/C-C cross-coupling reaction has been found to occur between pyridine N-oxides and general nonactivated secondary and even tertiary alkyl bromides. It provides a practically useful approach for the synthesis of alkylated pyridine derivatives. Experimental observations indicated that the C-Br cleavage step involves a radical-type process. Thus, the title reaction provides a rather extraordinary example of Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling of secondary and tertiary aliphatic electrophiles.