Providing Support in Favor of the Existence of a PdII/PdIV Catalytic Cycle in a Heck‐Type Reaction

The complex Pd(O,N,C‐L)(OAc)], in which L is a monoanionic pincer ligand derived from 2,6‐diacetylpyridine, reacts with 2‐iodobenzoic acid at room temperature to afford the very stable pair of Pd^IV complexes (OC‐6‐54)‐ and (OC‐6‐26)‐Pd(O,N,C‐L)(O,C‐C₆H₄CO₂‐2)I] (1.5:1 molar ratio, at ?55 °C). These complexes and the Pd^II species Pd(O,N,C‐L)(OX)] and Pd(O,N,C‐L′)(NCMe)]ClO₄, (X=MeC(O) or ClO₃, L′=another monoanionic pincer ligand derived from 2,6‐diacetylpyridine), are precatalysts for the arylation of CH₂?CHR (R?CO₂Me, CO₂Et, Ph) using IC₆H₄CO₂H‐2 and AgClO₄. These catalytic reactions have been studied and a tentative mechanism is proposed. The presence of two Pd^IV complexes was detected by ESI(+)‐MS during the catalytic process. All the data obtained strongly support a Pd^II/Pd^IV catalytic cycle.