A General and Efficient Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling Protocol Using Weak Base and No Water: The Essential Role of Acetate

A weak base, CsOAc, promotes Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling and related Pd-catalyzed reactions under anhydrous conditions as effectively as stronger bases. Aryl triflates exhibit unusual reaction rates, which are comparable to that of bromoarenes. A neglected six-membered transition-state model was proposed to give alternative insight into the key process of transmetalation. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)