Factors affecting the oxidative addition of aryl electrophiles to 1,1 '-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenepalladium(eta(2)-methyl acrylate), an isolablePd[0] alkene complex

The title complex 3 has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystal lography. It undergoes oxidative addition with aryl triflates and iodides b y a nondissociative mechanism in THF. The Heck addition product methyl cinn amate was detected at traces from the reaction with phenyl triflate, and fr om iodobenzene the direct oxidative addition product was characterized. The addition of halides or acetate salts to the system led to modest effects o n the rate of oxidative addition of aryl triflates, but resulted in neutral arylpalladium(II) complexes. Addition of lithium or europium salts enhance d the reaction rate, the effect being most pronounced with Eu(OTf)(3), poss ibly through promotion of a competing dissociative pathway.