Unprecedented palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of α-bromo sulfoxides with boronic acids

(Matrix presented) A new Suzuki-type palladium-catalyzed reaction of boronic acids with α-bromo sulfoxides has been developed using a protocol similar to the well-documented reaction of boronic acids with aryl halides. Both cross-coupling and homocoupling processes were observed. The best yields in cross-coupling products were obtained when the presence of oxygen was carefully excluded using degassed solvents. The oxidative addition palladium complex intermediate could be isolated and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction.