Efficient synthesis of 3-arylphthalides using palladium-catalyzed arylation of aldehydes with organoboronic acids.

The synthesis of 3-arylphthalides via palladium-catalyzed arylation of aldehydes with organoboronic acids was achieved using the thioether-imidazolinium carbene ligand in good to excellent yields and was carried out using 1.0 mol % of the catalyst with high substrate tolerance.