An efficient and recyclable thermoregulated phosphine–palladium catalyst for the carbonylative Suzuki coupling of aryl halides with arylboronic acids in water

•The carbonylative Suzuki coupling reaction was carried out in pure water.•Thermoregulated phosphine–palladium catalyst was used.•The catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity for the synthesis of biaryl ketones.•Both aryl halides (I,Br) and benzyl chloride were suitable substrates.•The palladium catalyst can be simply recovered and efficiently reused up to 8 runs.

An efficient protocol has been developed for the carbonylative Suzuki coupling of aryl halides using the thermoregulated phosphine–palladium as a reusable catalyst in pure water. This protocol was applied to a wide variety of hindered and functionalized aryl iodides and bromides with arylboronic acids, to afford the desired biaryl ketones in good to high yields. The palladium catalyst was easily recovered in the aqueous phase and reused up to eight cycles without a significant decrease in its activity.

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