Applications of and alternatives to π-electron-deficient azine organometallics in metal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

While the use of pi-deficient azine halides in palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions is common, the use of pi-electron deficient azine organometallics has been less intensively examined. In recent years, important advances have been made that are beginning to address this deficiency and need. The purpose of this tutorial review is to highlight and discuss the innovations that facilitate the synthesis of azine-containing biaryls with a focus on the pyridine structural motif. Given the number of important compounds which exhibit azine-heterobiaryls and the wide use of cross-coupling methods in their synthesis, this review should be of interest among synthetic organic chemists and organometallic chemists alike.