Facile synthesis of 2-arylpropenoic acid esters by cross-coupling using electrogenerated highly reactive zinc and a palladium catalyst

Highly reactive zinc metal was prepared by electrolysis of a DMF solution c ontaining naphthalene and a supporting electrolyte in a one-compartment cel l fitted with a platinum cathode and a zinc anode. The reaction of this rea ctive zinc with ethyl 2-bromoacrylate at -20 degreesC and the following cro ss-coupling reaction with aryl iodides in the presence of 5 mol% Pd(P(o-Tol )(3))(2)Cl-2 at 70 degreesC gave the corresponding ethyl 2-arylpropenoates in almost quantitative yields.