Bis-benzimidazolium salts were prepared successfully from commercially available and inexpensive o-phenylenediamine through a series of simple reactions. The bis-NHC-Pd complexes prepared in situ can catalyze Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction under very mild conditions in aqueous media with excellent yields. The efficiency of this reaction is demonstrated by its compatibility with a range of functional groups. Di-ortho-substituted biaryls could be accomplished in 89-99% yields. Moreover, the rigorous exclusion of air or moisture is not required in these transformations.
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