Palladium(II)-allyl complexes containing chiral N-donor ferrocenyl ligands

A comparative study of the reactivity of (SC)-[FcCHN-C(H)(R2)(R1)] (Fc = (η5-C5H5)Fe(η5-C5H4), R1 = Ph, R2 = Me (1a) or R1 = CH2OH and R2 = Me (1b) or CHMe2 (1c)) with the allyl-palladium(II) complexes [Pd(η3-1R1,3R2-C3H3)(μ-Cl)]2 (R1 = H and R2 = H or Ph or R1 = R2 = Ph) is described. The catalytic activity of 1 in the allylic alkylation of (E)-3-phenyl-2-propenyl acetate with sodium diethyl 2-methylmalonate is also reported.