Rapid and efficient Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling of aryl chlorides.

An efficient and effective microwave-assisted cross-coupling of terminal alkynes with various aryl chlorides including sterically hindered, electron-rich, electron-neutral, and electron-deficient aryl chloride is developed. It proceeds faster and generally gives good to excellent yields and also can be extended successfully to the Suzuki coupling and Buchwald-Hartwig amination, as well as the Heck coupling with inert aryl chlorides. The short reaction times and simple reaction conditions coupling with a broad substrate scope render this method particularly attractive for the efficient preparation of biologically and medicinally interesting molecules.