Gold catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of arenediazonium o-benzenedisulfonimides

Arenediazonium o-benzenedisulfonimides have been used as efficient electrophilic partners in Au(I) catalysed Suzuki coupling reactions. The synthetic protocol is general, easy and produced either biaryls or heteroaryl arenes in good yields (51 positive examples, average yield 80%). o-Benzenedisulfonimide was recovered at the end of the reactions and was reused to prepare the starting salts for further reactions. Mechanistic insights suggest that the o-benzenedisulfonimide anion act as an electron transfer agent and promotes a catalytic cycle which does not require the presence of photocatalysts or external oxidants. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.