Transition-metal-catalyzed arylation of nitroimidazoles and further transformations of manipulable nitro group.

Pd- or Ni-catalyzed C-H arylation of 4-nitroimidazole derivatives directed by a manipulable nitro group was developed. The reaction tolerates a wide range of substituted aryl halides and 4-nitroimidazoles. The experiments indicated that the nitro group has influence on regioselectivity of the reaction.