Microwave-accelerated Suzuki cross-coupling reaction in polyethylene glycol (PEG)

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is found to be an inexpensive and non-toxic reaction medium for the microwave-assisted Suzuki cross-coupling of arylboronic acids with aryl halides. This environmentally friendly microwave protocol offers ease of operation and enables recyclability of catalyst and synthesis of a variety of substituted biaryls employing palladium chloride as catalyst and potassium fluoride as the base.