The scope and limitations of direct arylation of fluorinated aromatics with aryl sulfonates was examined. Pd(OAc)2, in the presence of MePhos and KOAc in THF, efficiently catalyzed the direct arylation of fluoro aromatics with aryl triflates under ambient conditions. Sterically hindered triflates and heteroaryl triflates gave good to excellent yields of the cross coupled products using a modified catalyst system which involves Pd(OAc)2–RuPhos at 100 °C. The direct arylation of electron deficient arenes with aryl mesylates is also established using Pd(OAc)2–SPhos as the catalyst in toluene–tBuOH at 120 °C.
