A Solution to the 2-Pyridyl Organometallic Cross-Coupling Problem:  Regioselective Catalytic Direct Arylation of Pyridine N-Oxides

Direct arylation reactions of pyridine N-oxides occur in excellent yield with complete selectivity for the 2-position with a wide range of aryl bromides. This reactivity permits the use of inexpensive, commercially available, and bench-stable pyridine N-oxides as replacements for problematic 2-metallapyridines in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.