Efficient palladium-catalysed carbonylative and Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions with bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)-o-xylene

The use of the ligand bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)-o-xylene (dtbpx) in palladium-catalysed carbonylative and Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions is described. Aryl and vinyl halides readily entered into the carbonylative catalytic cycle affording carboxylic acids, amides as well as primary, secondary and tertiary esters, respectively, in good yields. Aryl iodides, bromides and chlorides gave high yields of biphenyl products upon reaction with both activated and unactivated boronic acids.