Table 2.

Reaction Conditions Optimization with N-Phenylmaleimide (5a)^a

entry	ligand	solvent	drying gent	% yield of 4a/4a′/2a′b
1	L1	toluene		89/–/–
2	JohnPhos	toluene		34/16/36
3c	WangPhos	toluene		46/12/5
4	L2	toluene		24/15/–
5	PPh3	toluene		–/–/–
6	L1	DCM		85/–/4
7	L1	PhCF3		83/–/–
8e	L1	toluene		9/–/–d
9	L1	toluene	drierite	91/–/–
10	L1	toluene	3 Å MS	84/–/–
11	L1	toluene	drierite	97/–/–f
12	L1	toluene	drierite	97/–/–g

^aYields were calculated via ¹H NMR using diethyl phthalate as the internal standard. Reactions were run for 16 h at room temperature and then quenched with ⁿBu₄NCl.

^bRegioisomers were determined by an OBz aromatic signal at 8.09 ppm.

^c88% conversion.

^dMostly starting material left.

^eAgNTf₂ (5 mol %) instead of NaBARF (10 mol %) used as the halide abstractor.

^f2 equiv of 5a used.

^g3 equiv of 5a used.