Fluoride-Catalyzed Reduction of Palladium(II) to Palladium(0)−Phosphine Complexes

We demonstrate that in the presence of water and excess PPh 3, fluoride ion catalyzes the reduction of (Ph 3 P) 2 PdCl 2 under mild conditions to Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 in good yields. The inactivation of catalytic F - by formation of highly stable HF 2 -, and other polyhydrogen fluorides that can form in the reaction, is prevented by adding a strong nonionic base such as P(MeNCH 2 CH 2 ) 3 N.