Chelation-Assisted Cross-Coupling of Anilines through In Situ Activation as Diazonium Salts with Boronic Acids under Ligand-, Base-, and Salt-Free Conditions

We describe the coupling of anilines with aryl boronic acids, under ligand-, base-, and salt-free conditions at room temperature. This new reaction proceeds through the formation of an aryl palladium alkoxo complex, which allows the transmetalation step with aryl boronic acids without any external base. Importantly, this sustainable procedure generates only environmentally friendly byproducts such as tBuOH, H2O, N2, and B(OH)3. The reaction mechanism has been deeply investigated through experimental and theoretical studies.