Pd(0)/TPPMS‐catalyzed Tsuji‐Trost type cross‐coupling of allylic alcohols with organoboron compounds in water

We demonstrated that the combination of a Pd(0) catalyst and a water‐soluble TPPMS ligand has high activity for the direct arylation of readily available allylic alcohols in the Tsuji‐Trost type cross‐coupling. Various organoboron reagents can be applied, enabling rapid access to the corresponding arylated products with a wide range of functional group tolerance. Kinetic studies revealed a first‐order rate dependence for the allylic alcohol, boronic acid, CsF and Pd(0)/TPPMS concentrations. A Hammett study found a slightly positive r value of 0.79, suggesting that a partial negative charge is generated on the aromatic ring of the aryl boronate in the rate‐determining transmetalation step. Based on several control experiments, we concluded that the transmetalation employing CsF would proceed via the oxo‐palladium mechanism.