Palladium- (and nickel-) catalyzed vinylation of aryl halides.

Functionalized styrenes are extremely useful building blocks for organic synthesis and for functional polymers. One of the most general syntheses of styrenes involves the combination of an aryl halide with a vinyl organometallic reagent under catalysis by palladium or nickel complexes. This Feature Article provides the first comprehensive summary of the vinylation methods currently available along with a critical comparison of the efficiency, cost and scope of the methods.