Insertion reactions phenylpalladium intermediates

The reaction can be explained by the transmetalation of the borate with PdCl2 giving phenylpalladium intermediate and the subsequent insertion of a C=C double bond of norbornadiene into the Pd-Ph bond. Cationic 7t-allyl-palladium(II) and -rhodium(I) complexes having a BPhJ counter anion induce phenyl group migration from B to the transition metals at elevated temperature to form phenyl complexes [54,55] (Eq. 5.17). 

Oxidative cross-coupling with alkenes is possible with Pd(OAc)2 [109], The reaction proceeds by the palladation of benzene to form phenylpalladium acetate (164), followed by alkene insertion and elimination of /1-hydrogen. Heteroaromatics such as furan and thiophene react more easily than benzene [109]. Stilbene (177) is formed by the reaction of benzene and styrene. The complex skeleton of paraberquamide 179 was obtained in 80% yield by the Pd(II)-promoted coupling of the indole ring with the double bond in 178, followed by reduction of the intermediate with NaBELt [110]. 

Catellani and Lautens have independently reported unique palladium/ norbornene-catalyzed reactions of aryl halides, which mechanistically involve a reversible alkene insertion/p-carbon elimination process [11]. For example, iodobenzene reacted with 1-iodobutane and methyl acrylate to form the multiply-alkylated benzene 29 (Scheme 7.9) [12]. The following mechanism is proposed oxidative addition of phenyl iodide onto palladium generates phenylpalladium(ll) iodide. A double bond of norbornene inserts into the C-Pd bond to form an alkylpalladium species, which cleaves a C-H bond nearby to form the palladacycle 25. -Butyl iodide then reacts with 25 to form the Pd(IV) intermediate 26, which undergoes reductive elimination. Repetition of the cyclometalation/alkylation process leads to the formation of 27. Then, P-carbon elimination affords the arylpalladium species 28 together with norbornene. Subsequently, a Heck-type reaction takes place with methyl acrylate, giving rise to 29. 

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