An atom-efficient palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of triarylbismuths with acid chlorides: synthesis of diaryl and alkyl aryl ketones

The cross-coupling reaction of triarylbismuths with acid chlorides using a catalytic amount of PdCl2/PPh3 afforded the corresponding ketones in high yields. The reactions of aromatic and aliphatic acid chlorides occurred with atom efficiency, as 3 equiv of acid chlorides coupled effectively with 1 equiv of triarylbismuths to yield 3 equiv of the corresponding diaryl and alkyl aryl ketones.