Cationic Pd(II)-Catalyzed Fujiwara-Moritani Reactions at Room Temperature in Water

Pd-II-catalyzed Fujiwara-Moritani reactions can be carried out without external acid at room temperature and in water as the only medium. A highly active cationic Pd-II catalyst, [Pd(MeCN)(4)](BF4)(2) easily activates aromatic C-H bonds to produce electron-rich cinnamates in good yields.