Studies on Pd/NiFe(2)O(4) catalyzed ligand-free Suzuki reaction in aqueous phase: synthesis of biaryls, terphenyls and polyaryls.

Palladium supported on nickel ferrite (Pd/NiF(2)O(4)) was found to be a highly active catalyst for the Suzuki coupling reaction between various aryl halides and arylboronic acids. The reaction gave excellent yields (70-98%) under ligand free conditions in a 1:1 DMF/H(2)O solvent mixture, in short reaction times (10-60 min). The catalyst could be recovered easily by applying an external magnetic field.