Palladium(ii)-catalyzed -selective hydroarylation of alkenyl carbonyl compounds with arylboronic acids

A catalytic -selective syn-hydroarylation of alkenyl carbonyl compounds using arylboronic acids has been developed using a substrate directivity approach with a palladium(ii) catalyst. This method tolerates a wide range of functionalized (hetero)arylboronic acids and a variety of substitution patterns on the alkene. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that transmetalation is rate-limiting.