Cationic Pd(II)/bipyridine-catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids in aqueous media

Abstract

An in-situ generated cationic Pd(II)/bipyridine-catalyzed conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids in water was developed and optimized. For most substrates, nearly quantitative yields were given, and the products can be purified by simple washing without column chromatography. The reaction can be scaled up to 1.0 g easily with excellent yields. Also the loading of catalyst can be lowered to 1.0 mol% with modest yields, and the reaction provided a mild and easy way to synthesize β-disubstituted carboxylic acids.