The present disclosure describes a method of coupling a first compound to a second compound, the method comprising: providing the first compound having a fluorosulfonate substituent; providing the second compound comprising an alkene; and reacting the first compound and the second compound in a reaction mixture, the reaction mixture including a catalyst having at least one group 10 atom, the reaction mixture under conditions effective to couple the first compound to the second compound.

The present disclosure describes a method of coupling a first compound to a second compound, the method comprising: providing the first compound having a fluorosulfonate substituent; providing the second compound comprising an alkene; and reacting the first compound and the second compound in a reaction mixture, the reaction mixture including a catalyst having at least one group 10 atom, the reaction mixture under conditions effective to couple the first compound to the second compound.

A method of: reacting a dihydroxybenzene with bromine to form a bromodihydroxybenzene; reacting the bromodihydroxybenzene with trifluoromethanesulfonyl chloride or trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride to form a bromotrifluoromethanesulfonatobenzene; and reacting the bromotrifluoromethanesulfonatobenzene with phenylacetylene to form a phenylethynylbenzene.

A method of: reacting a dihydroxybenzene with bromine to form a bromodihydroxybenzene; reacting the bromodihydroxybenzene with trifluoromethanesulfonyl chloride or trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride to form a bromotrifluoromethanesulfonatobenzene; and reacting the bromotrifluoromethanesulfonatobenzene with phenylacetylene to form a phenylethynylbenzene.

Haloalkane sulfonic acids and salts thereof are provided. In embodiments, a haloalkane sulfonic acid or salt thereof comprises an alkyl group, at least one sulfonic acid group, and one or more halogens selected from Cl, Br, I, and F, the haloalkane sulfonic acid having a total number of carbon atoms of from 2 to 9, and wherein if at least one F atom is present, the haloalkane sulfonic acid comprises at least one other halogen selected from Cl, Br, and I. Methods of making and using the haloalkane sulfonic acids/salts are also provided.

Haloalkane sulfonic acids and salts thereof are provided. In embodiments, a haloalkane sulfonic acid or salt thereof comprises an alkyl group, at least one sulfonic acid group, and one or more halogens selected from Cl, Br, I, and F, the haloalkane sulfonic acid having a total number of carbon atoms of from 2 to 9, and wherein if at least one F atom is present, the haloalkane sulfonic acid comprises at least one other halogen selected from Cl, Br, and I. Methods of making and using the haloalkane sulfonic acids/salts are also provided.