Suzuki−Miyaura, α-Ketone Arylation and Dehalogenation Reactions Catalyzed by a Versatile N-Heterocyclic Carbene−Palladacycle Complex

[reaction: see text] The activity of the complex (IPr)PdCl(eta2-N,C-C12H7NMe2), 1 [IPr = (N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol)-2-ylidene], in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction involving unactivated aryl chlorides and triflates with arylboronic acids at room temperature in technical grade 2-propanol is described. These conditions allow for the synthesis of di- and tri-ortho-substituted biaryls in very short reaction times. This complex also displays very high activity for alpha-ketone arylation and dehalogenation reactions of activated and unactivated aryl chlorides.