CO2 as Both a Selective Agent and Reaction Media in Palla-dium-Catalyzed Reductive Ullmann-Type Coupling Reaction

Carbon dioxide as both a selective agent and reaction media in the palladium-catalyzed Ullmann-type coupling has been described. The results showed that aryl chlorides could be easily activated in the presence of carbon dioxide and the chemoselectivity shifted toward the palladium-catalyzed Ullmann-type coupling reaction. In liquid carbon dioxide, homocoupling reactions of aryl halides, including less reactive aryl chlorides, were carried out smoothly in moderate to good yields using Pd/C, zinc, and H2O as the catalytic system at room temperature.