C–H Bond Activation at Palladium(IV) Centers

This communication describes the first observation and study of C–H activation at a PdIV center. This transformation was achieved by designing model complexes in which the rate of reductive elimination is slowed relative to that of the desired C–H activation process. Remarkably, the C–H activation reaction can proceed under mild conditions and with complementary site selectivity to analogous transformations at PdII. These results provide a platform for incorporating this new reaction as a step in catalytic processes.