Solid-state Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions: olefin-accelerated C–C coupling using mechanochemistry

The Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction is one of the most reliable methods for the construction of carbon–carbon bonds in solution. However, examples for the corresponding solid-state cross-coupling reactions remain scarce. Herein, we report the first broadly applicable mechanochemical protocol for a solid-state palladium-catalyzed organoboron cross-coupling reaction using an olefin additive. Compared to previous studies, the newly developed protocol shows a substantially broadened substrate scope. Our mechanistic data suggest that olefin additives might act as dispersants for the palladium-based catalyst to suppress higher aggregation of the nanoparticles, and also as stabilizer for the active monomeric Pd(0) species, thus facilitating these challenging solid-state C–C bond forming cross-coupling reactions.