Mild Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Direct ortho C-H aczlation of Anilides under Aqueous Conditions, Fruzsina Szabó, János Daru, Dániel Simkó, Tibor Zs. Nagy, András Stirling, Zoltán Novák, Adv. Synth. Catal. 2013, 355, 685-691. DOI: 10.1002/adsc.201200948 | [Full Text Link] [Supp. Info Link]

Palladium-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling between anilides and aromatic aldehydes was achieved under aqueous conditions. A wide variety of the desired benzophenone derivatives was isolated in good to excellent yield. The reaction rate acceleration effect of acid and detergent has been demonstrated. Mechanistic insight has been obtained from quantum chemical calculations.