Palladium-Catalyzed Heck Coupling-Hydrogenation: Highly Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of Dibenzyls and Alkyl Phenyl Esters

An efficient method for the synthesis of industrially important dibenzyls and alkyl phenyl esters via sequential Heck coupling and hydrogenation of the alkenyl double bond in one pot with a single recyclable catalyst under mild conditions has been realised. The catalyst was recovered by simple filteration and reused for several cycles with consistent activity.