Palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of carboxylic–phosphoric anhydrides via C–O bond cleavage†

A robust palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of carboxylic–phosphoric anhydrides via highly selective C(O)–O bond cleavage under inorganic base-free conditions has been reported. Carboxylic–phosphoric anhydrides, generated through activating carboxylic acids using phosphates by esterification or direct dehydrogenative reaction with phosphites, have been employed as highly reactive electrophiles for Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. Broad substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance have been demonstrated to be a general and practical approach for the synthesis of highly valuable ketones.