Cine-substitution in the Stille coupling: evidence for the carbenoid reactivity of sp3-gem-organodimetallic iodopalladio-trialkylstannylalkane intermediates

Two complementary routes to sp3-gem-organodimetallic iodopalladio-trialkylstannanylalkanes are presented. Such intermediates have been proposed as Pd-carbenoid precursors in the Busacca-Farina cine-substitution mechanism in the Stille coupling. The decomposition of iodomethyltrialkylstannanes by Pd(0) catalysts was monitored by 1H, 2D, and 119Sn NMR. The formation of ethylene, trace formaldehyde, and iodotrialkylstannanes was detected. When the reaction was carried out in the presence of norbornene, the corresponding cyclopropane was produced in good yield. These observations are consistent with the intermediacy of a Pd-carbenoid species. sp3-gem-Organodimetallic iodopalladio-trialkylstannanylalkane complexes were also prepared under stoichiometric conditions via transmetalation from tin to Pd(II). Me3SnCH2Sn(CH2CH2CH2)3 reacted with (D-t-BPF)PdI]+I-, yielding the (D-t-BPF)Pd(II)ICH2SnMe3 complex that dimerized to form ethylene and cyclopropanated norbornene. The carbenoid reactivity of iodopalladio-trialkylstannanylalkanes complexes validates the Busacca-Farina mechanism of the cine-substitution in the Stille coupling.