Palladium/phosphite or phosphate catalyzed oxidative coupling of arylboronic acids with alkynes to produce 1,4-diaryl-1,3-butadienes

The intermolecular oxidative coupling of arylboronic acids with internal alkynes efficiently proceeds in a 2:2 manner in the presence of palladium acetate, a triaryl phosphite or phosphate, and silver carbonate as catalyst, ligand, and oxidant, respectively, to produce the corresponding 1,4-diaryl-1,3-butadiene derivatives.