Palladium-catalyzed coupling of allylboronic acids with iodobenzenes. Selective formation of the branched allylic product in the absence of directing groups.

Palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of functionalized allylboronic acids with iodobenzenes were achieved under standard Suzuki-Miyaura coupling conditions. The coupling reactions afforded selectively the branched allylic products in high to excellent yields. In contrast to palladium-catalyzed nucleophilic substitution reactions proceeding via (eta3-allyl)palladium intermediates, this process does not require directing groups in the allyl moiety to achieve substitution at the congested allylic terminus. The regioselectivity of the process was largely unaffected by the substituent effects of the iodobenzenes and the allylic substrates.