2,6-Bis(diphenylphosphino)pyridine: a simple ligand showing high performance in palladium-catalyzed CN coupling reactions

The use of commercially available 2,6-bis(diphenylphosphino)pyridine as a ligand in conjunction with K2CO3, DMAc and TBAB is an effective method for the palladium-catalyzed CN coupling of a variety of aryl halides with anilines, N-heterocyclic aromatic amines, and a cyclic secondary amine. The reactions proceed in good to excellent yield (up to 98%) while the loading of Pd(OAc)2 was as low as 0.025 mol %.