Synthesis of new styrylarenes via Suzuki–Miyaura coupling catalysed by highly active, well-defined palladium catalysts

Abstract

An efficient synthetic route for well-defined palladium(0) complexes [Pd(η²-dba)(PPh₃)₂] (2), [Pd(η²-dba)(PCy₃)₂] (3) and their crystallographic structures is reported. This is the first crystallographic characterization of palladium complexes coordinated with one dibenzylideneacetone and two phosphines. A highly effective, fully controlled method for selective synthesis of mono- (5–9) and distyrylarenes (10–15) via Suzuki–Miyaura coupling is described.