Palladium catalyzed ligand-free Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of benzylic halides with aryl boronic acids under mild conditions

A highly efficient Suzuki cross-coupling reaction between benzylic halides and aryl boronic acids using palladium chloride as catalyst in acetone:water (3:1) as the solvent system has been developed. High yields of products, mild reaction conditions and short reaction times in the absence of ligand are important features of this method.