Microwave-assisted dehydrogenative cross coupling reactions in γ-valerolactone with a reusable Pd/β-cyclodextrin crosslinked catalyst

Transition-metal mediated C–H bond activation and functionalization is one of the most straightforward and powerful tools in modern organic synthetic chemistry. Oxidative C–H/C–H coupling reactions between two (hetero)arenes under heterogeneous catalysis may be a valuable means for the production of a plethora of bi(hetero)aryls, and one that adheres to the increasing demand for atom-economic and sustainable chemistry. We have therefore developed a reusable heterogeneous catalytic system, which is based on Pd cross-linked β-cyclodextrin, to perform an efficient microwave-assisted oxidative C–H/C–H cross coupling process between benzothiazoles and methyl thiophene in the presence of green solvents.