“Oxidatively Induced” Reductive Elimination of Dioxygen from an η2-Peroxopalladium(II) Complex Promoted by Electron-Deficient Alkenes

The first example of associative displacement of dioxygen from a peroxopalladium(II) complex is reported. Electron-deficient alkenes, p-X-trans-beta-nitrostyrene (X = OCH3, CH3, H, F, Br, CF3, NO2), react quantitatively with (bc)Pd(eta2-O2) (bc = bathocuproine) in dichloromethane at room temperature to form the corresponding palladium(0)-alkene complexes. Mechanistic studies indicate that ligand substitution proceeds through an associative mechanism, and the electronic characteristics of the reactions are consistent with an "oxidatively induced" reductive elimination pathway.