Transition-Metal-Like Catalysis with a Main-Group Element: Bismuth-Catalyzed C-F Coupling of Aryl Boronic Esters.

The main-group age: The past decade has revealed main-group-element compounds that display transition-metal-like reactivity in stoichiometric and even catalytic transformations. Cornella and co-workers have now reported a bismuth complex that catalyzes fluoroarene formation from aryl boronate esters, a reaction that is almost unprecedented in transition-metal catalysis.