Consecutive palladium-catalyzed Hiyama–Heck reactions in aqueous media under ligand-free conditions

Abstract

Symmetric and asymmetric (E)-1,2-diarylethenes are synthesized from aryl bromides by consecutive one-pot Hiyama–Heck reactions carried out in water and under air; the only additives required are sodium hydroxide, palladium acetate and poly(ethylene glycol), and the products are isolable in many cases by simple filtration of the water solution.