Steric Effect of Carboxylate Ligands on Pd-Catalyzed Intramolecular C(sp2 )-H and C(sp3 )-H Arylation Reactions

A bulky carboxylic acid bearing three cyclohexylmethyl substituents at the α-position, namely, tri(cyclohexylmethyl)acetic acid, is demonstrated to act as an efficient ligand source in Pd-catalyzed intramolecular C(sp2 )-H and C(sp3 )-H arylation reactions. The reactions proceed smoothly under mild reaction conditions, even at room temperature due to the steric bulk of the carboxylate ligands, which accelerates the rate-determining C-H bond activation step in the catalytic cycle.