(Ph3P)AuCl-catalyzed homocoupling of arylboronic acids under benchtop conditions: Synthesis of biphenyls

(PhP)AuCl was discovered to be a powerful catalyst in the homocoupling of arylboronic acids and potassium aryltrifluoroborates for the synthesis of symmetrical biaryls. The reactions take place under benchtop reaction conditions in 96% EtOH at temperatures between rt and 50 °C with no exclusion of air or humidity, in the presence of F-TEDA (Selectfluor™) as an oxidant. The procedure is very functional group tolerant, and affords the corresponding biaryls in high yields with large substrate scope (26 examples).This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Education, Spain, grant no. PID2021–124419NB-I0