Abstract: An efficient arylation technique for use in the synthesis of erythromycin derivatives, involving a modified Heck reaction which employs less than six mole percent of palladium catalyst and no phosphine is disclosed. With this modified Heck reaction, an O-alkenylaryl macrolide can be obtained in a much shorter reaction time than under conventional Heck reaction conditions. The modified Heck reaction can be utilized in a method for phosphine-free arylation of an O-allylic erythromycin derivative, in a method for preparing an O-alkenylaryl erythromycin A derivative, or in a method for preparing a 2?, 4?-hydroxyl protected 6-O-alkenylaryl erythromycin A derivative.

Abstract: An efficient arylation technique for use in the synthesis of erythromycin derivatives, involving a modified Heck reaction which employs less than six mole percent of palladium catalyst and no phosphine is disclosed. With this modified Heck reaction, an O-alkenylaryl macrolide can be obtained in a much shorter reaction time than under conventional Heck reaction conditions. The modified Heck reaction can be utilized in a method for phosphine-free arylation of an O-allylic erythromycin derivative, in a method for preparing an O-alkenylaryl erythromycin A derivative, or in a method for preparing a 2′,4″-hydroxyl protected 6-O-alkenylaryl erythromycin A derivative.