A redox switchable ferrocene decorated n-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) palladium catalyst for cross coupling of arylboronic acid and acetic anhydride in phosphine, base and additive free conditions.

A phosphine, base and additive free cross-coupling of arylboronic acid is reported via C–O bond cleavage of acetic anhydride using a switchable ferrocene functionalized n-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) palladium complex. The novel redox active catalytic system afforded the corresponding arylketones with good to excellent yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]