α-arylation of ketones using highly active, air-stable (DtBPF)PdX2 (X = cl, br) catalysts

alpha-Arylation of various ketones with aryl chlorides and bromides using the well-defined and air-stable (DtBPF)PdX2 (X = Cl, Br) catalysts gave 80-100% yield of the coupled products under relatively mild conditions at low catalyst loadings. The X-ray structure of (DtBPF)PdCl2 revealed the largest P-Pd-P bite angle (104.2 degrees) for a ferrocenyl bisphosphine ligand. P-31 NMR monitoring of (DtBPF)PdCl2-catalyzed reaction of 4-chlorotoluene with propiophenone indicated that DtBPF remained coordinated in a bidentate mode during the catalytic cycle.