Synthesis of diethyl 2-(aryl)vinylphosphonates by the Heck reaction catalysed by well-defined palladium complexes

Pd-catalysed procedures for the direct Heck arylation of diethyl vinylphosphonate with various aryl or heteroaryl halides toward the synthesis of diethyl 2-(aryl)vinylphosphonates are reported. Several homogeneous catalytic systems (i.e. Herrmann palladacycle, Nolan (NHC)-palladium catalyst, Pd(OAc)2/PPh3) were used and compared within the study. High conversions and selectivities were achieved under optimised conditions (2 mol% [Pd], NMP, K2CO3, 140 °C) whatever the homogeneous catalyst used.