Controlling reactivity in the Fujiwara-Moritani reaction: Examining solvent effects and the addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl ligands on the oxidative coupling of electron rich arenes and acrylates

Abstract A palladium-catalysed direct alkenation of electron rich arenes in the presence of K2S2O8 with an acetic acid/1,4-dioxane solvent combination has been developed. The 1,4-dioxane co-solvent dramatically influences the rate of reaction, giving selectively disubstituted alkenes, while the addition of acetylacetone ligands was shown to increase site selectivity for the alkenation of monofunctionalized arenes. The participation of these carbonyl ligands has been confirmed by ESI-MS studies, with some key in-situ intermediates in the catalytic cycle identified. A variety of electron rich arenes and olefinic substrates can be utilised in the direct oxidative coupling to give disubstituted alkenes in moderate to good yields.