Addition reaction of arylboronic acids to aldehydes and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds catalyzed by conventional palladium complexes in the presence of chloroform

Arylboronic acids react with aldehydes and α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in the presence of a base and a catalytic amount of a palladium(0) complex with chloroform, affording the corresponding addition products in good yields, and chiral benzhydrol was obtained with up to 43% e.e. using (S,S)-bppm as a ligand. General palladium complexes have no catalytic activity without chloroform. Because chloroform is essential for this reaction, these reactions would be promoted by dichloromethylpalladium(II) species.