A bulky biaryl phosphine ligand allows for palladium-catalyzed amidation of five-membered heterocycles as electrophiles.

Palladium-catalyzed amidation of five-membered heterocyclic bromides that contain multiple heteroatoms was achieved for the first time using the Pd/1 catalyst system. This system allows for efficient access to N-arylated imidazoles, pyrazoles, thiazoles, pyrroles, and thiophenes in moderate to excellent yield. Experimental results and DFT calculations point to the need for electron-rich and especially sterically demanding biaryl phosphine ligand to promote these difficult cross-coupling reactions.