Copper (I)-promoted coupling reaction of aryl halides with sodium diethylmalonate occurred smoothly in dioxane. The qualitative trends in the activity of copper (I) salt followed the order: CuBr> CuI> CuBF 4 (CH 3 CN) 4> CuCl. The activity was lowered in the presence of coordinating molecule such as acetonitrile, pyridine, NaI, phosphine, and sulfide. The reaction was generally applicable to aryl halides with various substituents.
