Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular Heck reaction of alkyl halides.

Intermolecular Heck reaction of common alkyl halides, a longstanding problem in palladium catalysis, is realized with a simple Pd/dppf catalyst. Both primary and secondary alkyl halides are suitable for coupling with aromatic olefins. Single electron transfer from (dppf)Pd(0) to alkyl halide initiated the catalytic cycle and gave alkyl radicals.