Direct synthesis of cinnamaldehyde derivatives by reaction of aryl bromides with 3,3-diacetoxypropene catalyzed by a palladium-tetraphosphine complex

The tetraphosphine all-cis-1,2,3,4-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)cyclopentane in combination with [Pd(C3H5)Cl](2) affords an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of cinnamaldehyde derivatives by reaction of aryl bromides with 3,3-diacetoxypropene. The reaction gave directly the cinnamaldehyde derivatives very selectively. The coupling reaction of heteroaryl bromides or sterically congested aryl bromides such as 2,4,6-trimethylbromobenzene also proceeds.