On the use of phosphine-free PdCl2(SEt2)2 complex as catalyst precursor for the Heck reaction

A simple and efficient experimental protocol has been developed for the catalytic arylation of alkenes by the air and water stable, and phosphine-free compound PdCl2(SEt2)2 associated with tetrabutyl ammonium bromide. Using this catalytic protocol, aryl iodides and bromides, and electron-poor aryl chlorides are coupled with n-butylacrylate and styrene under relatively mild reaction conditions with high catalytic activity. Reaction vessel ultra-trace amounts (ppt) of this Pd precursor promotes the coupling of iodo benzene with n-butylacrylate with turnover numbers (mol product/mol Pd) up to 109.