Role of cluster size and substrate in the gas phase CC bond coupling reactions of allyl halides mediated by Agn+ and Agn−1H+ cluster cations

Previous studies have demonstrated that the silver hydride cluster cation Ag4H+ promotes CC bond coupling of allylbromide [G.N. Khairallah, R.A.J. O'Hair, Angewandte Chemie International Edition 44 (2005) 728]. Here the influence of both the nature and the size of the silver cluster cation and the substrate on CC bond coupling are examined. Thus each of the cations Ag2H+, Ag4H+, Ag3+, and Ag5+ were allowed to react with three different halides: allyl chloride, allyl bromide and allyl iodide. No CC bond coupling is observed in the reactions of the cluster cations with allyl chloride. There are four main reaction sequences that result in CC bond coupling for allyl bromide and allyl iodide mediated by Agn+ and Agn−1H+ clusters: