Palladacycles as Intermediates for Selective Dialkylation of Arenes and Subsequent Fragmentation

Abstract

Palladacycles like 1 undergo spontaneous rupture of the C–C bond between the aliphatic and aromatic parts of the norbornyl-phenyl ligand after selective meta-dialkylation of the arene ring through PdIV intermediates like 2. This reaction proceeds smoothly without β-H elimination with alkyl and benzyl halides RX.