Ligand-Accelerated Cross-Coupling of C(sp²)–H Bonds with Arylboron Reagents

Abstract

A ligand-accelerated Pd(II)-catalyzed C(sp²)–H/arylboron cross-coupling reaction of phenylacetic acid substrates is reported. Using Ac-Ile-OH as the ligand and Ag₂CO₃ as the oxidant, a fast, high-yielding, operationally simple, and functional group-tolerant protocol has been developed for the cross-coupling of phenylacetic acid substrates with aryltrifluoroborates. This ligand scaffold has also been shown to improve catalysis using 1 atm O₂ as the sole reoxidant, which sheds light on the path forward in developing optimized ligands for aerobic C–H/arylboron cross-coupling