Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of sterically demanding boronic acids with α-bromocarbonyl compounds.

A catalyst system generated in situ from Pd(dba)(2) and tri(o-tolyl)phosphine mediates the coupling of arylboronic acids with alkyl α-bromoacetates under formation of arylacetic acid esters at unprecedented low loadings. The new protocol, which involves potassium fluoride as the base and catalytic amounts of benzyltriethylammonium bromide as a phase transfer catalyst, is uniquely effective for the synthesis of sterically demanding arylacetic acid derivatives.