A one-pot procedure for the synthesis of 2-alkyl-2-arylcyanoacetates based on a Pd(OAc)2/DPPF (DPPF = 1,1‘-diphenylphosphino ferreocene)-catalyzed enolate arylationfollowed by in situ alkylation has been developed. Thisprocedure tolerates a diverse range of aryl and heteroarylbromides, and provides a rapid entry to a variety of 2-alkyl-2-arylcyanoacetates in good to excellent yield.
