Ligands for metals and improved metal-catalyzed processes based thereon

A method for forming a compound represented by Ar—Ar′, comprising the step of:

• combining a compound represented by ArX, a compound represented by Ax′B(OH)2, a transition metal, a ligand and a base;
• wherein
• Ar and Ar′ are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic and heteroaromatic moieties;
• X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, —OS(O)2alkyl, and —OS(O)2aryl;
• the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of the Group VIIIA metals;
• the ligand is selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by 2:
• wherein
• Q represent P(R)2;
• Y represents H, alkyl, N(R)2, OR, or SR;
• R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8, independently for each occurrence represent hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxyl, alkoxyl, silyloxy, amino, nitro, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, imino, carboxamido, phosphoryl, phosphonate, phosphine, carbonyl, carboxyl, silyl, thioalkyl, alkylsulfonyl, alrylsulfonyl, selenoalkyl, formyl, acyl, aldehyde, ester, heteroalkyl, nitrile, guanidine, amidine, acetal, ketal, amine oxide, aryl, heteroaryl, azide, aziridine, carbamate, epoxide, hydroxamic acid, imide, oxime, sulfonamide, thioamide, thiocarbamate, urea, thiourea, or —(CH2)m—R80;
• R80 represents independently for each occurrence an unsubstituted or substituted aryl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, a heterocycle, or a polycycle;
• m is independently for each occurrence an integer in the range 0 to 8 inclusive;
• and
• the ligand, when chiral, may be provided in the form of a mixture of enantiomers or as a single enantiomer;
• and
• the base is selected from the group consisting of carbonates, phosphates, fluorides, alkoxides, amides, carbanions, and silyl anions.