The progress in palladium-catalyzed α-arylation of carbonyl derivatives is reviewed with emphasis on α-arylation of ketones, amides and esters. The applications of α-arylation of ketones in the synthesis of γ-Lycorane as well as α-arylation of amides in the synthesis of natural products including cherylline, latifine and physovenine are also described.

Key words: ester, application, natural product, ketone, syn-thesis, α-arylation, amide, palladium-catalyzed