Fengrui Qu, Julia R. Khusnutdinova, Nigam P. Rath and Liviu M. Mirica
Chem. Commun., 2014,50, 3036-3039
DOI:
10.1039/C3CC49387C,
Communication
The complex (Me3tacn)PdII(CH2CMe2C6H4) is readily oxidized by O2 or H2O2 to yield the PdIV–OH complex [(Me3tacn)PdIV(OH)(CH2CMe2C6H4)]+. Thermolysis of this product leads to the selective C(sp2)–O reductive elimination of 2-tert-butylphenol, no C(sp3)–O elimination product being detected. This system represents a rare example of selective C(sp2)–O bond formation that is relevant to Pd-catalyzed aerobic C–H hydroxylation reactions.