Direct synthesis of unprotected phenols using palladium-catalysed cross coupling reactions of functionalised organozinc reagents.

Palladium-catalysed reaction of unprotected 2-, 3-, and 4-iodophenols with a range of amino acid derived organozinc reagents (not used in excess) gives the expected products in good to excellent yield, demonstrating that carbon-zinc bonds are not protonated by acidic phenols under the conditions of palladium-catalysed coupling reactions.