Highly efficient carbazolyl-derived phosphine ligands: application to sterically hindered biaryl couplings

A new family of phosphine ligands bearing a bulky carbazolyl scaffold is described. With the combination of ligand 2a and Pd(OAc)(2), difficult tri-ortho-substituted biaryl couplings are accomplished smoothly. In particular, the catalyst loading as low as 0.02 mol% of Pd for non-activated 2,6-disubstituted aryl chloride coupling can be achieved.