Activation of benzene carbon–hydrogen bonds by palladium(II) acetate–dialkyl sulphide systems

Benzene is directly activated by palladium(II) acetate-dialkyl sulphide systems at 70 °C to afford acetato-bridged diphenyltripalladium(II) complexes [(R2S)PhPd(µ-MeCO2)2Pd(µ-MeCO2)2PdPh(SR2)], which are regarded as intermediate species in the catalytic arylation of alkenes and carbonylation of arenes by palladium(II) acetate.