Direct synthesis of 3-arylpropionic acids by tetraphosphine/palladium catalysed Heck reactions of aryl halides with acrolein ethylene acetal

Through the use of [PdCl(C3H5)]2/Cis,cis,cis-1,2,3,4-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)cyclopentane as a catalyst, a range of aryl bromides undergoes Heck reaction with acrolein ethylene acetal. With this acetal, the selective formation of 3-arylpropionic acids/esters was observed. The functional group tolerance on the aryl halide is remarkable; substituents such as fluoro, methyl, methoxy, acetyl, formyl, benzoyl, nitro or nitrile are tolerated. Furthermore, this catalyst can be used at low loading, even for reactions of sterically hindered aryl bromides.