Allylic Amination of Pd(II)-Allyl Complexes via High-Valent Pd Intermediates

Organometallic high-valent Pd(allyl) complexes have been recently proposed to act as intermediates in catalytic allylic functionalization reactions. While a few PdIV(η1-allyl) complexes have been isolated and characterized, PdIII(η3-allyl) or PdIII(η1-allyl) complexes have not been detected or isolated to date. Reported herein is the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of a series of PdII(η3-allyl) complexes supported by the tetradentate pyridinophane ligands N,N′-di-tert-butyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)pyridinophane (tBuN4) and N,N′-di-tert-methyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)pyridinophane (MeN4). These PdII(η3-allyl) complexes exhibit accessible oxidation potentials and upon oxidation generate PdIII(allyl) complexes that were characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Interestingly, the [(MeN4)PdIII(η3-allyl)]2+ complex undergoes a rearrangement to the [(MeN4)PdIII(η1-allyl)]2+ species at low temperatures. Moreover, fast allylic amination occurred within 15 min at room temperature upon the reaction of [(MeN4)PdII(η3-allyl)]+ complexes with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI), and the C–N bond formation step is proposed to occur at the Pd(IV) oxidation state, likely via a PdIV(η1-allyl) intermediate.