RhCl(PPh3)3-catalyzed Coupling of Diorganomercurials

Abstract

Abstract RhCl(PPh3)3 has been proved to be an effective catalyst for the reaction of various diorganomercurials to give such coupling products as conjugated diyne, conjugated diene, biaryl, and alkane in good yields under mild conditions. A probable mechanism including the oxidative addition of organomercurials to a rhodium complex and the subsequent reaction of two oxidative-addition adducts to yield the product was presented.