Palladium-catalysed arylation of acetoacetate esters to yield 2-arylacetic acid esters

The coupling reaction between ethyl acetoacetate and a number of aryl halides in the presence of palladium acetate, a bulky and electron rich phosphine and K3PO4 is described. The arylated acetoacetate ester is de-acylated under the reaction conditions resulting in the generation of 2-arylacetic acid esters, constituting a mild alternative to direct arylation of carboxylate esters.