Practical Heck-Mizoroki coupling protocol for challenging substrates mediated by an N-heterocyclic carbene-ligated palladacycle.

A highly active, N-heterocyclic carbene-palladacycle precatalyst for the Heck-Mizoroki reaction was rationally designed. The complex can be synthesized on a large scale in excellent yield by a novel, one-pot, three-component reaction and is tolerant to air, moisture, and long-term storage. A wide range of challenging substrates is successfully coupled under a simple and user-friendly reaction protocol.