Aryl mesylates, reaction mechanism

Several studies have used palladium catalysis in the arylation of benzoxazoles. A palladium catalyst with a phosphine ligand allows their reaction with aryl mesylates without the requirement for acid or copper additives. In the reaction with arene-sulfonyl chloride, palladium is used in combination with copper. A plausible mechanism involves initial cupration of the benzoxazole followed by copper—palladium exchange and oxidative addition of the sulfonyl chloride to palladium to give (84). This intermediate may lose sulfur dioxide to give an aryl palladium species, which, on reductive elimination, yields 2-arylbenzoxazole. The arylation of benzoxazoles and benzthiazoles with aryl boronic acids is also catalysed by a combination of palladium... 

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