1-(α-Aminobenzyl)-2-naphthol as phosphine-free ligand for Pd-catalyzed Suzuki and one-pot Wittig-Suzuki reaction

Air stable and easily accessible, 1‐(α‐aminobenzyl)‐2‐naphthols are used as efficient phosphine‐free ligands in palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki reaction for a variety of substrates under conventional heating as well as ultrasonic conditions. Multi‐brominated aromatic substrates were successfully converted to corresponding arylated moieties with good conversion and selectivity. A novel one‐pot two‐step cascade reaction strategy involving Wittig and Suzuki reactions is developed for efficient synthesis of 4‐styryl biphenyls (C6‐C2‐C6‐C6 unit). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Phosphine free 1‐(α‐aminobenzyl)‐2‐naphthol ligands are used for Pd catalyzed Suzuki and one‐pot Wittig‐Suzuki reaction to efficiently prepare styryl biphenyls (C6‐C2‐C6‐C6 unit).