Pd-Catalyzed α-Arylation of Trimethylsilyl Enol Ethers

Significance

This work describes a highly practical method of the Pd-catalyzed arylation of silyl enol ethers. In comparison with the earlier developed arylation of Li enolates, the use of silyl enol ethers has many advantages, like significantly milder reaction conditions, defined structure of the enolate, possibility of the development of an enantioselective variant of this reaction leading to compounds with acidic tertiary stereocenters. The method makes use of an interesting, previously unknown synergistic effect of two different metal fluorides in the arylation reaction catalysis. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions, tolerating a vast number of functional groups.