The Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling of Nitroarenes

Synthesis of biaryls via the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling (SMC) reaction using nitroarenes as an electrophilic coupling partners is described. Mechanistic studies have revealed that the catalytic cycle of this reaction is initiated by the cleavage of the aryl–nitro (Ar–NO2) bond by palladium, which represents an unprecedented elemental reaction.