Ligand‐Promoted Catalysed Reactions

The Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling (SMC) between aryl halides and aryl boronic acids was studied using a palladium–quinoline-derived complex. Trifluoromethylphenyl sulfones exhibited an intermediate reactivity between aryl pseudohalides and nitroarenes in SMC. The SMC of N-benzoylglutarimides with aryl boronic acids allowed the efficient formation of sterically hindered diaryl ketones. Cross-coupling with the corresponding alkenyl iodides gave access to a variety of β-carotenes, preserving the stereochemical information of the corresponding oligoene partners. Single atom and sub-nanometre clusters of platinum or palladium promoted Heck, Sonogashira, or Suzuki reactions under ligand-free conditions. The coupling of ketones or secondary alcohols with primary alcohols was performed using a manganese-based pincer catalyst, following a borrowing hydrogen pathway. A dual photo/nickel-catalytic cycle was used in the transformation of aromatic acids into aryl esters using aryl halides as coupling partners.