Highly electrophilic aryl(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)iodonium triflates have been used for the first time as trifluoroethyl and aryl transfer reagents in Pd-catalyzed functionalization of arylboronic acids. Electron-rich arylboronic acids reacted with aryl(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)iodonium triflates (2a–b) in CH3CN in the presence of Pd2(dba)3 and K3PO4 at room temperature to provide trifluoroethyl arenes in
(2 mol%) was found to be an efficient catalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross couplingreaction between aryl bromide and aryl boronic acid in water solvent at 45 °C. The scope of the protocol was extended to various aryl bromides and aryl boronic acids. In general, an effective method has been developed for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross couplingreaction by using a phosphine-free Pd catalyst.