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.