Efficient two-phase Suzuki reaction catalyzed by palladium complexes with water-soluble phosphine ligands and detergents as phase transfer reagents

The coupling reaction of iodoanisole and phenylboronic acid occurs in aqueo us medium in presence of palladium complexes with water-soluble phosphine l igands with good yields (> 99%). The complex PdCl2[Ph2P(CH2),SO3K](2) is an excellent precursor to catalyze the coupling reactions of aryl halides wit h arylboronic acid in toluene/ethanol/water with sodium carbonate as base a nd surfactants as phase transfer reagents between 30 degrees C and 78 degre es C. With increasing concentration of the surfactant the rates of the reac tions were increased and the formation of byproducts was suppressed. The ca talytic system was active down to the ppm range. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.