Ligand‐ and Base‐Free Access to Diverse Biaryls by the Reductive Coupling of Diaryliodonium Salts

A ligand- and base-free, Pd-catalyzed protocol to access a wide range of symmetrical and unsymmetrical biaryls from stable diaryliodonium salts was developed. The reaction involved the use of an effective and recyclable Pd/polyethylene glycol-400 catalyst system to harness the aryl moieties of two diaryliodonium salts; the ensuing biaryls may be utilized to synthesize an array of useful compounds, including 5-aryluracils, carbazoles, chromenones, fluorenones, phenathridines, and boscalid analogues.