Palladium(0) complex-catalyzed debrominative coupling of (tribromomethyl)- and (dibromomethyl)benzenes to diarylacetylenes and 1,2-diarylethenes
Palladium(0)-triphenylphosphine complex-catalyzed debrominative coupling reaction of (tribromomethyl)benzenes gave diarylacetylenes or a mixture of (E)- and (Z)-α,β-dibromostilbenes depending upon the substrate and the solvent being used. On the other hand, (dibromomethyl)benzenes afforded (E)-stilbenes selectively under the same reaction conditions.