Regioirregular and catalytic Mizoroki–Heck reactions

The palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reaction between alkenes and aryl halides (the Mizoroki–Heck reaction) is a powerful methodology to construct new carbon–carbon bonds. However, the success of this reaction is in part hampered by an extremely marked regioselectivity on the double bond, which dictates that electron-poor alkenes react exclusively on the β-carbon. Here, we show that ligand-free, few-atom palladium clusters in solution catalyse the α-selective intramolecular Mizoroki–Heck coupling of iodoaryl cinnamates, and mechanistic studies support the formation of a sterically encumbered cinnamate–palladium cluster intermediate. Following this rationale, the α-selective intermolecular coupling of aryl iodides with styrenes is also achieved with palladium clusters encapsulated within fine-tuned and sterically restricted zeolite cavities to produce 1,1-bisarylethylenes, which are further engaged with aryl halides by a metal-free photoredox-catalysed coupling. These ligand-free methodologies significantly expand the chemical space of the Mizoroki–Heck coupling.