Formation of bi-aryls via a domino palladium catalysis

Synthesis of bi-aryls via a domino Pd-catalyzed reaction of 1-(2-bromophenyl)-2-methylpropan-1-ones/(2-bromophenyl)(cyclohexyl)methanones is presented. The mechanism of the reaction is believed to proceed through a five membered palladacycle that combines with a second molecule of halo-arene to yield the bi-aryls. This method is quite successful to deliver highly sterically crowded bi-aryls with dense functionalities on the aromatic rings.