Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of 6-aryl Dopamine Derivatives

Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter involved in a series of biologically relevant processes and its derivatives have sparked significant interest as intriguing synthetic targets. This class of compounds is indeed not only considerable for the potential biological activities but is also promising for diverse applications in material science. In light of this, our research was focused on the synthesis of 6-aryldopamine derivatives starting from 4-(2-aminoethyl)phenol through a sequential protocol, whose main steps are hydroxylation, halogenation, and Suzuki cross-coupling. Our method demonstrated versatility, efficiency, and compatibility with various functional groups, including aldehydes, ketones, esters, ethers, and fluorine.