Pathway Bifurcations in the Activation of Allylic Halides by Palladium and Their Influence on the Dynamics of η and η Allyl Intermediates.

Transition-metal-catalyzed allylic substitution often exhibits complex product selectivity patterns, which have been primarily attributed to π ↔ σ ↔ π isomerization of the η and η allyl intermediates. Product selectivity may be even further complicated if η- and η-allyls share a single transition state (TS), leading to their formation resulting in a post-transition-state bifurcation (PTSB). In this work, density functional theory calculations using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) have been carried out that support the presence of a PTSB in Pd-catalyzed allylic halide activation directly influencing product selectivity. The AIMD results initiated from the TS predict the η-allyl to be favored in the gas phase and a low dielectric (ε < 2.5) for trialkylphosphines, while the selectivity shifts toward the η-allyl in higher dielectrics. The minimum energy path is also predicted to shift in product preference, consistent with the dynamics predictions. The bifurcation in allylic chloride activation is predicted to largely favor the η-allyl at any solvent polarity. A PTSB was also discovered to be present in Ni and Pt allylic activation but with less bifurcation. These results offer a unique view into the mechanism of metal-catalyzed allylic substitution.