Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of aldehydes from aryl iodides and formic acid with propylphosphonic anhydride as the activator

Abstract

An interesting palladium-catalyzed carbonylative procedure for the synthesis of aromatic aldehydes from aryl iodides has been developed. By using propylphosphonic anhydride as the activator for formic acid, moderate to good yields of the corresponding aldehydes were produced with formic acid as the carbonyl and hydrogen donors. Interestingly, neither additional phosphine ligand nor inert gas protection is needed here.