Ultrasound-Promoted Synthesis of Arylzinc Compounds Using Zinc Powder and Their Application to Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Multifunctional Biaryls

Arylzinc compounds containing electron-withdrawing groups such as CO2CH3, CON(CH3)2, CN, Br, Cl, or CF3 at ortho position were prepared readily by the ultrasound-promoted reaction of aryl iodides with zinc powder, which were applied to palladium(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling with aryl halides to afford unsymmetrical and multifunctional biaryls in good yields.