Palladium-pincer complex catalyzed C-C coupling of allyl nitriles with tosyl imines via regioselective allylic C-H bond functionalization

A mechanistically new palladium-pincer complex catalyzed allylation of sulfonimines is presented. This reaction involves C-H bond functionalization of allyl nitriles under mild conditions. The reaction proceeds with a high regioselectivity, without allyl rearrangement of the product. Modeling studies indicate that the carbon-carbon bond formation process proceeds via (eta(1)-allyl)palladium pincer complex intermediates.