B. Liang, M. J. Dai, J. H. Chen*, Z. Yang*

J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 391.

A mild protocol for the copper-free Sonogashira coupling of aryl iodides with terminal acetylenes in water under aerobic conditions has been developed. The use of 1 mol % PdCl2in the presence of pyrrolidine allows the coupling reaction to proceed at room temperature or 50 °C with good to excellent yields.