Much improved conditions for the Negishi cross-coupling of iodoalanine derived zinc reagents with aryl halides.

A combination of Pd(2)(dba)(3) and SPhos (1:2 molar ratio) is an excellent precatalyst for the Negishi cross-coupling of the serine-derived organozinc reagent 2 with aryl halides, including previously difficult ortho-substituted examples. In the case of meta- and para-substituted aryl halides, Pd-loadings of 0.5 mol % give satisfactory results. Use of 2-iodoaniline as substrate gives the lactam 12 in good yield.