Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of arylacetamides from arylboronic acids

Aryl amides were synthesized by the palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of α-bromoacetamides with arylboronic acids in good yields. Both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents on the aromatic ring are found to be compatible. The addition of Cu2O and PPh3 was found to be essential for good reaction yields.