Highly selective palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura monocoupling reactions of ethene and arene derivatives bearing two or more electrophilic sites

Selective Suzuki–Miyaura monocoupling reactions of di- and polyhalogenated ethenes and di- and polyhalogenated arene derivatives bearing different or identical halogen atoms are reviewed, and the reasons for the observed stereo-, site- and/or chemo-selectivities are discussed. The use of these reactions as key steps in the synthesis of naturally-occurring compounds, bioactive substances including drugs and liquid crystals is also reported.