Microwave-promoted Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of arylboronic acids with 1-bromo-2-naphthol, o-bromophenol, and o-chlorophenol

In this letter we report a simple and efficient way for the direct Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of unprotected 2-hydroxyaryl bromides and of 2-chlorophenol with arylboronic acids using suitable phosphine/Pd(OAc)2 catalysts systems with moist K3PO4/toluene or moist CsF/dioxane and microwave heating (20 min 105 °C to 3 h 100–120 °C) with an internal temperature control providing 2-hydroxybiaryls in yields up to 98%.