O2-promoted allylic acetoxylation of alkenes: Assessment of “push” versus “pull” mechanisms and comparison between O2 and benzoquinone

Mechanistic studies of PdII-mediated allylic acetoxylation suggest that O2 and benzoquinone promote C-O bond formation by different pathways: BQ participates directly in C-O bond formation via an oxidatively induced reductive elimination pathway, while O2 traps Pd0 following reversible C-O bond formation from an allyl-palladium(II) species.132