Pd-catalyzed ortho-selective oxidative coupling of halogenated acetanilides with acrylates

Coupling of different halogenated acetanilides with acrylates using Pd-catalyzed ortho-selective C-H bond activation is reported. The yields of coupled products are low to high depending on the substrate. In general, arenes with electron-rich substituents like methoxy and methyl groups gave higher yields of the coupled products. The presence of the halogen substituent did not interfere with the activation process under these conditions.