Mechanism of C-P bond formation via Pd-catalyzed decarbonylative phosphorylation of amides: insight into the chemistry of the second coordination sphere.

We report on the basis of DFT computations a plausible and detailed reaction mechanism for the first Pd-catalyzed decarbonylative phosphorylation of amides forming C-P bonds, which reveals, among other things, crucial events in the second coordination sphere, including ion pair and hydrogen bonding interactions as well as proton transfer.