Arylation of diethyl malonate and ethyl cyanoacetate catalyzed by palladium/di-tert-butylneopentylphosphine

α-Arylated carbonyl derivatives are important structural motifs in many natural products and pharmaceutically active compounds. Although arylation of simple monocarbonyl compounds is a well-established methodology, metal-catalyzed arylation of β-dicarbonyl derivatives is significantly more challenging. The ability of β-dicarbonyl anions to bind to palladium in a κ2-O,O mode, rather than the κ1-C-bound mode required for bond formation, often results in the deactivation of catalyst systems. The C-bound form of the enolate can be favored through the use of sterically demanding ligands. Herein, we report that the sterically demanding di-tert-butylneopentylphosphine (DTBNpP) ligand in combination with Pd(dba)2 provides an effective catalyst for the coupling of aryl bromides and chlorides with diethyl malonate. The Pd/DTBNpP system also catalyzes the coupling of aryl bromides with ethyl cyanoacetate.