Comparative study of aryl halides in Pd-mediated reactions: key factors beyond the oxidative addition step

Abstract

Although practical catalytic transformations involving aryl chlorides are difficult to implement, they are highly desirable since the starting compounds are inexpensive and readily available. Retarded oxidative addition of aryl chlorides to palladium catalyst as compared to aryl bromides and aryl iodides is typically taken for granted as an explanation for the overall inefficiency of the process. The comparative experimental study and analysis reported herein suggest that oxidative addition cannot be considered the sole reason of the observed low reactivity of aryl chlorides. Other factors were found to play an important role in influencing the reactivity of aryl halides. The present findings suggest that a substantial revision of catalyst design principles is necessary for successful transformations of aryl chlorides.