Palladium-catalyzed Heck-type reactions of alkyl iodides.

A palladium-catalyzed Heck-type reaction of unactivated alkyl iodides is described. This process displays broad substrate scope with respect to both alkene and alkyl iodide components and provides efficient access to a variety of cyclic products. The reaction is proposed to proceed via a hybrid organometallic-radical mechanism, facilitating the Heck-type process with alkyl halide coupling partners. Initial intermolecular studies are also reported, demonstrating the potentially wide applicability of this approach in synthesis.