Abstract
Heck arylation of acrolein dialkyl acetal with (hetero)-aryl halides in water catalyzed by solid palladium catalysts and in presence of cyclodextrins is reported. Depending on the nature of the base, either cinnamaldehyde or 3-aryl propionic ester is obtained. It was shown that the presence of cyclodextrins in the reaction media increased the reaction rate as well as the stability of the palladium species.