Solventless Suzuki coupling reactions on palladium-doped potassium fluoride alumina

A solventless Suzuki coupling reaction has been developed which utilizes a commercially available potassium fluoride alumina mixture and palladium powder. The new reaction is convenient, environmentally friendly, and generates good yields of the coupled products. Aryl iodides react faster than the bromides or chlorides; aryl groups are also more reactive than alkenyl groups, which react faster than alkyl groups. The use of microwave irradiation accelerates the reaction, decreasing reaction times from hours to minutes. The palladium powder catalyst can be recycled using a simple filtration and washing sequence without loss of catalytic activity.