An air oxidizable bimetallic palladium(II) catalyst for asymmetric allylic oxidation of olefins in acetic acid

A bimetallic palladium(II) complex containing a triketone ligand and a bridging diphosphine ligand oxidizes olefins in acetic acid to allylic acetates by a direct air oxidation, which does not require intermediate redox systems. When the diphosphine is chiral, an asymmetric reaction occurs which gives enantioselectivities between 52 and 78% for cyclic olefins.