Carbonylative Suzuki couplings of aryl bromides with boronic acid derivatives under base-free conditions

The carbonylative Suzuki-Miyaura reaction between aryl bromides and arylboronic acid equivalents is herein reported, using base-free conditions and a limited excess of carbon monoxide generated ex situ from stable CO-precursors. Under these conditions, unsymmetrical biaryl ketones were obtained in modest to excellent yields. This method was adapted to the synthesis of the triglyceride and cholesterol regulator drug, fenofibrate, and its (13)C-labeled derivative in good yields from the appropriate CO-precursor.