Base free Suzuki acylation reactions of sodium (aryl trihydroxyborate) salts: A novel synthesis of substituted aryl ketones

Abstract

The first simple and efficient base free Pd(PPh3)4 catalysed synthesis of substituted aryl ketones from acyl chlorides and easily accessible sodium aryl trihydroxyborate salts in aqueous toluene is reported. The reaction conditions appeared versatile and tolerable to a variety of functional groups including, CF3, OMe, SMe, Br, NO2, F, OH and NH2 furnishing 25 examples of substituted aryl ketones in isolated yields of up to 96% in 24 h. Beside the high purity, the ease and convenience of the isolation compared to boronic acids, sodium aryl trihydroxyborate salts could be used subsequently without the addition of excess amount of an activator and are more user-friendly in terms of the use of accurate reaction stoichiometry.