Allyl–palladium complexes with fluorinated benzene thiolate ligands. Examination of the electronic effects in the Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation reaction with the catalytic system [(η3-C3H5)Pd(μ-SRf)]2/PR3

The bimetallic complexes [(η3-C3H5)Pd(μ-SRf)]2 [Rf=C6F5, (1); C6F4H-4, (2); C6H4F-2, (3); C6H4F-3, (4) and C6H4F-4, (5)] in the presence of para-substituted phosphines P(C6H4X-4)3 [X=OCH3, CH3, H, F, Cl, and CF3] are efficient catalytic systems in the allylic alkylation couplings of (E)-3-acetoxy-1,3-diphenyl-1-propene and dimethyl malonate. Results concerning the electronic effects of both sulfur and phosphorus substituents in this reaction are discussed.