Conjugate allylation reactions of alkylidene malononitriles mediated by NHC-ligated palladium catalysts

Conjugate allylation of malononitriles is reported using catalytic N-heterocyclic carbene-ligated palladium complexes. This conjugate allylation reaction yields a variety of monoallylated products. These results contrast the bis-allylation of malononitriles using other palladium-based catalysts. This reaction tolerates a wide variety of functional groups including aryl groups, heteroaromatics, and aliphatic substituents to provide the desired products in good to excellent yields. Derivativation of the monoallylation products to form a triamino pyrimidine is demonstrated.