Preparation of anionic phosphine ligands in situ for the palladium-catalyzed Buchwald/Hartwig amination reactions of aryl halides

2-Phenylindenyl phosphine ligand can be changed into anionic phosphine ligand in situ and utilized in the palladium-catalyzed Buchwald/Hartwig amination reactions in DME, providing good to excellent yields of amination products from aryl chlorides, bromides and iodides. 31P NMR studies show that the resonance for the anionic phosphine appeared between those of the (2-phenylindenyl)-dicyclohexyl phosphonium salt and (2-phenylindenyl)dicyclohexylphosphine. The calculated results were consistent with the experimental results.