Palladium-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of 2-alkyl-2-arylcyanoacetates.

A one-pot procedure for the synthesis of 2-alkyl-2-arylcyanoacetates based on a Pd(OAc)2/DPPF (DPPF = 1,1‘-diphenylphosphino ferreocene)-catalyzed enolate arylation followed by in situ alkylation has been developed. This procedure tolerates a diverse range of aryl and heteroaryl bromides, and provides a rapid entry to a variety of 2-alkyl-2-arylcyanoacetates in good to excellent yield.