The Merrifield resin-supported diphenylphosphinobiphenyl ligand via an ether linkage was successfully prepared. Complexation with allylpalladium chloride dimer afforded the polymer-supported catalyst, which exhibits good activities for the Suzuki cross-coupling reactions. A range of aryl iodides and bromides can couple with phenylboronic acid to provide the respective biaryls. The resin-bound catalysts can be recycled for five times without obvious decline in activity.

Key words: immobilization, palladium, Suzuki cross-coupling, catalysis