Aryliodine (III) Diacetates as Substrates for Pd-Ag Catalyzed Arylation of Alkenes

An unprecedented application of aryliodine(III) diacetates as substrates in Pd-Ag catalyzed arylation of alkenes is described. The mechanistic studies revealed that the binary Pd-Ag catalysis leads to the decomposition of aryliodine(III) diacetates to oxygen and aryl iodides followed by arylation of alkenes forming Heck-type products. Under optimized conditions both electron-rich and electron-deficient alkenes undergo arylation in high yields. Advantageously, the reaction proceeds smoothly in water as a solvent and neither organic ligands nor inert atmosphere are required.