Simple and efficient protocol for catalyst recycling and product recovery in the Pd-catalyzed homogeneous Suzuki reaction

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/methanol can be used as solvent medium for the Pd-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction under mild conditions. After the end of the reaction the product is extracted with heptane and the polar phase can be reused several times without any change in the activity. Pure biaryl products are obtained from the nonpolar phase in excellent isolated yields (>90%). The same catalyst-containing polar phase was used to coupling different aryl halides furnishing the biaryl products in good to high isolated yields.