Palladium-Catalyzed Tandem Isomerization/Hydrothiolation of Allylarenes.

Herein we report a tandem olefin migration/hydrothiolation of allyl benzenes facilitated by an in situ generated palladium hydride. A catalyst system composed of palladium acetate and bidentate ligand dtbpx (1,2-bis(di- tert-butylphosphinomethyl)benzene in the presence of catalytic amounts of triflic acid led to the tandem transformation, which furnished benzylic thioethers. The reaction exhibits high regioselectivity and can be conducted under mild conditions. The robustness of the catalyst is displayed through reactions with coordinating thiols.