Negishi alkyl-aryl cross-coupling catalyzed by Rh: efficiency of novel tripodal 3-diphenylphosphino-2-(diphenylphosphino)methyl-2-methylpropyl acetate ligand.

3-Diphenylphosphino-2-(diphenylphoshino)methyl-2-methylpropyl acetate acted as an efficient ligand for a Rh catalyst, achieving cross-coupling between arylzinc compounds bearing electron-withdrawing groups and alkyl electrophiles. The beneficial effect of the tripodal ligand and such aryl nucleophiles was discussed with regard to the specificity of the Rh catalysis.