Palladium-Catalyzed Dehydrative Cross-Coupling of Allylic Alcohols and N-Heterocycles Promoted by a Bicyclic Bridgehead Phosphoramidite Ligand and an Acid Additive

A mild and efficient dehydrative cross-coupling reaction between allylic alcohols and N-heterocycles using palladium catalysis is reported. A bicyclic bridgehead phosphoramidite (briphos) ligand together with Pd(dba)(2) is a highly efficient catalyst, and an acid additive involved in the rate-determining step promotes the catalytic cycle. The coupling reaction of allylic alcohols with N-heterocycles including imidazoles, benzimidazoles, and triazole proceeds under mild reaction conditions with high yields using Pd/briphos and pentafluorophenol.