Synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted biaryls via sequential lithiation of dibromobiaryls using integrated microflow systems

A microflow system consisting of micromixers and microtube reactors provides an effective method for the introduction of two electrophiles onto dibromobiaryls. Selective monolithiation of dibromobiaryls, such as 2,2'-dibromobiphenyl, 4,4'-dibromobiphenyl, 2,7-dibromo-9,9-dioctylfluorene, 2,2'-dibromo-1,1'-binaphthyl, and 2,2'-dibromobibenzyl with 1 equiv of n-butyllithium followed by the reaction with electrophiles was achieved using a microflow system by virtue of fast micromixing and precise temperature control. Sequential introduction of two different electrophiles was achieved using an integrated microflow system composed of four micromixers and four microtube reactors to obtain unsymmetrically substituted biaryl compounds.