A general, efficient, and functional-group-tolerant catalyst system for the palladium-catalyzed thioetherification of aryl bromides and iodides.

The cross-coupling reaction of aryl bromides and iodides with aliphatic and aromatic thiols catalyzed by palladium complexes of the bisphosphine ligand CyPF-tBu (1) is reported. Reactions occur in excellent yields, broad scope, high tolerance of functional groups, and with turnover numbers that exceed those of previous catalysts by 2 or 3 orders of magnitude. These couplings of bromo- and iodoarenes are more efficient than the corresponding reactions of chloroarenes and could be conducted with less catalyst loading and/or milder reaction conditions. Consequently, limitations regarding scope and functional group tolerance previously reported in the coupling of aryl chlorides are now overcome.