Palladium-catalyzed hydrodehalogenations by fluoride activated polymethylhydrosiloxane

A mild, selective, and efficient method for the Pd-catalyzed reduction of aryl bromides and iodides by hypercoordinate polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) is reported. In contrast to related methods, the hydrodehalogenations described herein are amine free and can be carried out in THF with relatively low loads of catalyst. Furthermore, we have evidence to suggest that the reduction of bromostyrene proceeds differently than previously described.