The highly efficient Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction using cyclopalladated N-alkylferrocenylimine as a catalyst in aqueous medium at room temperature under ambient atmosphere

A series of N-alkyl-substituted cyclopalladated ferrocenylimines were used in palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl halides in room temperature and CH3OH/H2O media under aerobic conditions. As for the catalysts, the length of N-alkyl chains has no significant effect on the catalytic activity. Using 0.01 mol% of dimer 3a in the presence of K2CO3 as base offered excellent yields in the reaction of activated and non-activated aryl bromides with phenylboronic acid.