Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular Heck reaction of alkyl halides

Intermolecular Heck reaction of common alkyl halides, a long-standing problem in palladium catalysis, is realized with a simple Pd/dppf catalyst. Both primary and secondary alkyl halides are suitable for coupling with aromatic olefins. Single electron transfer from (dppf) Pd-degrees to alkyl halide initiated the catalytic cycle and gave alkyl radicals.