Revisiting the Hirao cross-coupling: improved synthesis of aryl and heteroaryl phosphonates

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of dialkylphosphite with aromatic electrophiles (Hirao coupling) was re-investigated. Some limitations in terms of palladium loadings and substrate reactivity are alleviated with the use of Pd(OAc)(2) complexed to 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino) ferrocene (dppf) as a ligand. Various aryl and heteroaryl halides are employed to deliver both known and novel substituted phosphonates. The first examples of aryl chloride couplings are also reported. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.