Palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of nitro-substituted aromatics with aryl halides.

Direct arylation reactions of nitrobenzenes and aryl halides occur in good yield and high ortho regioselectivity. These reactions can be performed on gram scale with as few as 3 equiv of the nitro arene relative to the aryl halide. The synthetic utility of this method is demonstrated via rapid synthesis of a Boscalid intermediate.