文摘
We present a mechanistic study demonstrating selective Arf鈥揅l bond activation preceded by 畏2 coordination of Pd(PEt3)2 to a C鈺怌 moiety of a partially fluorinated substrate. An intramolecular ring-walking process to activate the Arf鈥揅l bond is plausible, but an intermolecular reaction becomes dominant in the presence of PEt3. The latter pathway is significantly enhanced, since PEt3 promotes dissociation of Pd(PEt3)3 from the C鈺怌 moiety followed by activation of the Arf鈥揅l bond. Our observations also show that PEt3 can be used to control reaction selectivity. The experimental observations are supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations (at the SMD(toluene)-DSD-PBEP86/cc-pV(D+d)Z-PP//DF-PBE+dv2/SDD(d) level of theory).