Pd(Xantphos)2 was independently synthesised following a modified procedure reported by Buchwald et al. An oven-dried 500 mL 3-neck flask was charged with Pd2dba3 (229 mg, 0.25 mmol, 1 Pd eq.), Xantphos (579 mg, 1 mmol, 4 eq.) and a stirbar, then evacuated and refilled with argon three times. Dry toluene (300 mL) was added and the dark purple solution was stirred for 4 h, yielding a bright yellow solution. The solution was allowed to stand overnight after which Pd black had settled to the bottom of the flask. The solution was then transferred to an oven-dried 500 mL round-bottom flask via cannula filter, and solvent was removed under reduced pressure. Excess dba was removed by washing with dry toluene (50 mL x 3, solid separated from supernatant by centrifuge after each wash), yielding Pd(Xantphos)2 as a bright yellow solid (492 mg, 0.39 mmol, 78 %), identified by HRMS. The solid is too insoluble to analyse by NMR once isolated, but NMR was used to confirm that no other species were present. HRMS-ESI m/z: 1262.2879 (Calc. for C76H64O2P4 106 Pd, 1262.2886).