Pd-Catalyzed intermolecular C-H bond arylation reactions: effect of bulkiness of carboxylate ligands.

A bulky carboxylic acid bearing one 1-adamantylmethyl and two methyl substituents at the α-position is demonstrated to work as an efficient carboxylate ligand source in Pd-catalyzed intermolecular C(sp2)-H bond arylation reactions. The reactions proceeded smoothly under mild conditions, taking advantage of the steric bulk of the carboxylate ligands.