Palladium-catalyzed nucleophilic benzylic substitutions of benzylic esters.

A palladium complex generated in situ from [Pd(eta3-C3H5)(cod)]BF4 and DPPF is a good catalyst for benzylic alkylation of benzyl methyl carbonate with the carbanion of dimethyl malonates. The catalytic reaction is applicable to a wide range of the benzylations of benzylic esters with malonates. The catalytic activity was heavily affected by the bite angle of the bidentate phosphine ligand on palladium. DPEphos ligand is superior to DPPF in the case of palladium-catalyzed benzylic amination of benzylic esters.