Regioselective Heck vinylation of electron-rich olefins with vinyl halides: is the neutral pathway in operation?

Highly regioselective vinylation of electron-rich olefins by bromo- as well as chlorostyrenes is effected by palladium catalysis with either mono- or bidentate phosphines in a molecular solvent, with no need for halide scavengers, ionic liquids, or ionic additives. The use of the hemilabile 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane monoxide (dpppO) as a ligand led to faster reactions of more challenging 2-substituted vinyl ethers and reduced Pd loadings. In contrast to the related arylation reaction, evidence suggests that the vinylation may proceed via the neutral Heck mechanism.