Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions of aryl chlorides with alkynes catalysed by a tetraphosphine–palladium catalyst

A range of aryl chlorides undergoes cross-couplings with alkynes in good yields in the presence of [PdCl(C3H5)]2/cis,cis,cis-1,2,3,4-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)cyclopentane as catalyst. A variety of aryl chlorides such as chloroacetophenone, chlorobenzonitrile, chloronitrobenzene, chloroanisole or chlorotoluene have been used successfully. The reaction also tolerates several alkynes such as phenylacetylene, dec-1-yne, ethynylcyclohexene or alk-1-ynols. Furthermore, this catalyst can be used at low loading with some substrates.