A new development in the process of palladium coupling has allowed for an improved reaction, it has been reported.

The Royal Society of Chemistry reports that research has found a way to link two aromatic compounds to make a biaryl without pre-activation. That means the reaction can take place with fewer synthetic steps.

David Stuart and Keith Fagnou, from the University of Ottawa in Canada, have found that aromatics can be selectively coupled without any pre-activation and will only give cross-coupled products.

By using this method and a palladium catalyst, the reaction takes place by the palladium first taking one aryl molecule, before taking the second, and then releasing the two as a single biaryl.

Martin Wills, from the University of Warwick in the UK, explained that the work demonstrates simple aromatics can be directly coupled, although he added that at present the choice of coupling reagents is restricted.

Sources:
Palladium coupling in fewer steps
24/05/07
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2007/May/24050702.asp

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