Arylboronic acids as versatile coupling partners in fast microwave promoted oxidative Heck chemistry

The useful and selective reactivity of arylboronic acids makes them favourite building blocks for many modern organic chemistry applications like the metal-mediated formation of C-C, C-O, C-N, and C-S bonds. This report describes oxidative Heck coupling reactions of arylboronic acids and olefins, which were conveniently and rapidly (5-30 min) carried out under air with temperature-controlled microwave heating. Different reaction conditions were investigated with regard to both microwave heating capability and chemical productivity. Copper(II) acetate was identified as a microwave compatible reoxidant of Pd(0). The scope and limitations of this high-speed chemistry protocol with diverse olefins and organoboronic acids are discussed.