Palladium-Catalyzed α-Arylation of Esters: Ideal New Methodology for Discovery Chemistry

Fine tuning for fine chemicals: Two complimentary and yet intimately related methods for the palladium-catalyzed arylation of esters and their derivatives have emerged. The careful choice of ligand and base proved to be decisive; the scheme shows one variation of one of the methods, which leads to amino esters. These results confirm, yet again, that the repertoire of palladium catalysis continues to expand at an astonishing pace.