Palladium-catalyzed, ligand-free Suzuki reaction in water using aryl fluorosulfates.

Aryl fluorosulfates were prepared by a simple method and employed as coupling partners in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction. The cross-coupling reactions were performed in water under air at room temperature without ligands or additives such as surfactants or phase-transfer reagents and proceeded smoothly to give excellent yields. Aryl fluorosulfates could also be used as alternatives to halides or triflates in other coupling reactions.