Reaction of aryl di-, tri-, or tetrabromides with arylboronic acids or alkenes in the presence of a palladium-tetraphosphine catalyst

cis, cis, cis- 1,2,3,4-Tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)cyclopentane/1/2 [PdCl(C3H5)](2) system catalyses the Suzuki and Heck reactions of aryl di-, tri-, or tetrabromides with a range of arylboronic acids or alkenes with moderate to high ratio substrate/catalyst in good yields. Aryl polybromides such as dibromobenzenes, 1,3,5-tribromobenzene, 1,2,4,5-tetrabromobenzene, dibromopyridines or a dibromothiophene have been successfully used. Convenient synthesis of a variety of di- and triarylated or vinylated compounds and even a 1,2,4,5-tetraarylated compound were prepared by use of this reaction. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.