Achieving Control over the Branched/Linear Selectivity in Palladium-Catalyzed Allylic Amination

Palladium-catalyzed reaction of unsymmetrical allylic electrophiles with amines gives rise to regioisomeric allylic amines. We have found that linear products result from the thermodynamically controlled isomerization of the initially formed branched products. The isomerization is promoted by protic acid and active palladium catalyst. The use of base shuts down the isomerization pathway and allows for the preparation and isolation of branched allylic amines. Solvent plays a key role in achieving high kinetic regioselectivity and in controlling the rate of isomerization. The isomerization can be combined with ring-closing metathesis to afford the synthesis of exocyclic allylic amines from their endocyclic precursors.