Preparation of anionic phosphine ligands in situ for the palladium-catalyzed Buchwald/Hartwig amination reactions of aryl halides

2-Phenylindenyl phosphine ligand can be changed into anionic phosphine ligand in situ and utilized in the palladium-catalyzed Buchwald/Hartwig amination reactions in DME, providing good to excellent yields of amination products from aryl chlorides, bromides and iodides. 31 P NMR studies show that the resonance for the anionic phosphine appeared between those of the (2-phenylindenyl)-dicyclohexyl phosphonium salt and (2-phenylindenyl)dicyclohexylphosphine. The calculated results were consistent with the experimental results.