N‑Heterocyclic Carbene–Palladium(II)–1-Methylimidazole Complex-Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling of Aryl Sulfonates with Arylboronic Acids

A well-defined NHC–Pd­(II)–Im complex 1 was found to be an effective catalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of aryl sulfonates including tosylates and phenylsulfonates with arylboronic acids, giving the desired coupling products in good to high yields. Acceptable yields can also be achieved even by using the less reactive mesylates as the substrates. It is worthy of noting here that this is the first example of NHC–Pd­(II) complex-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of aryl sulfonates with arylboronic acids, enriching an inexpensive, convenient, and alternative method for the synthesis of biaryl compounds.