Palladium(II) salts catalyze the Kirmse reaction of allylsulfides with trim
ethylsilyldiazomethane (TMSD) to give homoallyl-sulfides. Similarly, TMSD c
an intercept ArPdX intermediates generated during Stille couplings to give
benzhydryl derivatives. The yields of this process are limited by overinser
tion and beta -elimination. insertion and elimination can be harnessed to g
enerate styrenes from benzylic halides in the presence of palladium (0) cat
alysts. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. AU rights reserved.