Research news, Jan. 5th, 2015
Transfer of Aryl Halide to Alkyl Halide: Reductive Elimination of Alkylhalide from Alkylpalladium Halides Containing syn-β-Hydrogen Atoms
Wei Hao, Junnian Wei, Weizhi Geng, Wen-Xiong Zhang, and Zhenfeng Xi*
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 14533-14537.
Dedicated to Prof. Tamotsu Takahashi on the occasion of his 60th birthday
β-Hydride abstraction is a well-accepted elementary step for catalytic cycles in organometallic chemistry. It is usually anticipated that alkylpalladium halides containing syn-β-hydrogen atoms will undergo b-hydride abstraction to afford the Heck-type products. However, this study discloses that the above general knowledge is only conditionally correct. Our experimental results demonstrate that the reductive elimination of alkylhalides from alkylpalladium halides containing syn-β-hydrogen atoms may surpass the β-hydride abstraction or even become exclusive in certain cases.