Palladacycle phosphine complexes as homogeneous catalysts for the Heck cross-coupling reaction at low catalyst loading under aerobic conditions

A highly efficient Heck cross-coupling reaction between various aryl halides and olefins using mononuclear palladacycle complexes of the type [(Ph2P CH2CH2PPh2)Pd(Ph2PCH2PPh2C(H)C(O)PhX)](OSO2CF3)2 (X = Br (1), No2(2)) as catalyst precursors, under aerobic conditions has been developed. High yields of corresponding C–C products, low catalyst loadings and short reaction times are important features of these homogeneous reactions. Palladacycle 1 can be reduced to zerovalent palladium in DMF whilst dppe dioxide was formed.