Anionic Four-Electron Donor-Based Palladacycles as Catalysts for Addition Reactions of Arylboronic Acids with α,β-Unsaturated Ketones, Aldehydes, and α-Ketoesters

Abstract

Anionic four-electron donor-based palladacycle-catalyzed 1,4-additions of arylboronic acids with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones and 1,2-additions of arylboronic acids with aldehydes and alpha-ketoesters are described. Our study demonstrated that palladacycles were highly efficient, practical catalysts for these addition reactions. The work described here not only opened a new paradigm for the application of palladacycles, but may also pave the road for other metalacycles as practically useful catalysts for such addition reactions including asymmetric ones. [reaction: see text].