The first use of porphyrins as catalysts in cross-coupling reactions: a water-soluble palladium complex with a porphyrin ligand as an efficient catalyst precursor for the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction in aqueous media under aerobic conditions

For the first time, a palladium complex with a porphyrin ligand is used as a catalyst precursor for cross-coupling reactions. The synthesis of a palladium complex with a phosphine-free and water-soluble potassium carboxylate salt of a porphyrin, and its evaluation in the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of phenylboronic acid with aryl bromides (from electron-rich to electron-poor), in neat water, under aerobic conditions is described. Catalysis is performed at 100 °C for 4 h, using K2CO3 as base, and a substrate to catalyst molar ratio of 1000:1, leading to yields of coupling products in the range of 80–100%. The catalyst can be recycled and reused, but unfortunately, with a loss in activity.