Tetraphenylantimony carboxylates in the cascade Pd-catalyzed C-phenylation reaction of methyl acrylate in the presence of peroxide

Tetraphenylantimony(V) carboxylates have been used in the palladium-catalyzed C-phenylation reaction of methyl acrylate in the presence of (PhCO2)2 or t-BuOOH under mild conditions (50 °C). The peroxides promote a cascade participation of the organoantimony compound and result in the transfer of three phenyl groups. Organoantimony intermediates have been isolated from the reaction.