Cesium salts such as Cs₂CO₃, CsF, etc. have attracted much attention for their good effect on promoting Pd-catalyzed C—C formation coupling, alkylation and arylation of N, O and S atoms. This paper introduces the salt assistance to Pd-catalyzed Suzuki, Heck, Stille and Sonogashira reactions as well as arylation of enolate, ortho-arylation of phenol and carbonylation. The Cs-mediated alkylation and arylation of N, O and S atoms are also discussed, with emphases placed upon the comparison of cesium salts with their potassium or sodium analogs.

Key words: alkylation, Suzuki reaction, Sonogashira reaction, arylation, Heck reaction, Stille reaction, cesium salt