Copper-free palladium-catalyzed sonogashira-type coupling of aryl halides and 1-aryl-2-(trimethylsilyl)acetylenes

A one-pot procedure for the direct coupling of 1-aryl-2-trimethylsilylacetylenes with aryl halides to give diaryl acetylenes is reported. The procedure does not involve the use of copper(I) iodide. Improvement in reaction yields has been obtained by replacing conventional oil bath heating with the use of microwave dielectric heating.