Catalytic Strategies to Convert 2‐Halopyridines to 2‐Alkylpyridines

Over the past decade, improvements in synthetic technologies have increased the feasibility and practicality of the preparation of 2‐alkylpyridines from 2‐halopyridines. Advances in iron‐, nickel, and palladium‐catalysis have increased efficiency in the access of 2‐alkylpyridines with traditional cross‐coupling approaches. Additionally, the emergence of cross‐electrophile coupling reactions and photoredox catalysis strategies have proven to be enabling technologies for the synthesis of 2‐alkylpyridines. Nevertheless, these developments reveal remaining opportunities for more efficient, mild, and straightforward methods to access a broader range of 2‐alkylpyridines from 2‐halopyridines. 2 vs 2: 2‐Alkylpyridines are important molecules that find broad use. The expedient synthesis of these molecules has remained challenging, due in large part to the difficulties associated with the use of heteroaromatic and alkyl substrates in cross‐coupling reactions. In this Minireview, recent advances in the use of 2‐halopyridines as substrates for the synthesis of 2‐alkylpyridines are discussed.