Palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative Heck coupling of thiazole-4-carboxylates

Oxidative Heck coupling of thiazole-4-carboxylates via palladium(II)-catalyzed C-H bond activation has been achieved in moderate to good yields. No ligand, and no acidic additive were used in the reaction. The results showed that this protocol tolerated a series of substitutions on the thiazole ring. A preliminary attempt of direct arylation with p-xylene via Pd(II)-catalyzed C-H bond activation has also been done.