Palladium-Catalyzed Carbocyclizations of Unactivated Alkyl Bromides with Alkenes Involving Auto-tandem Catalysis

The development of a general catalytic system for the palladium-catalyzed carbocyclization of unactivated alkyl bromides with alkenes is described. This approach uses a commercially available bisphosphine ligand and avoids the use of carbon monoxide atmosphere present in prior studies involving alkyl iodides. Detailed mechanistic studies of the transformation are performed, which are consistent with auto-tandem catalysis involving atom-transfer radical cyclization followed by catalytic dehydrohalogenation. These studies also suggest that reactions involving alkyl iodides may proceed through a metal-initiated, rather than metal-catalyzed, radical chain process.