Sulfur-Containing Palladacycles: Efficient Phosphine-Free Catalyst Precursors for the Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reaction at Room Temperature

[reaction: see text] Cyclopalladated compounds derived from the ortho-metalation of benzylic tert-butyl thioethers are excellent catalyst precursors for the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of aryl bromides and chlorides with phenylboronic acid under mild reaction conditions. A broad range of substrates and functional groups are tolerated in this protocol, and highly catalytic activity is attained.