A Room Temperature Kharasch Reaction Catalyzed by Pd(0) in a Heterogeneous Aqueous System

The palladium-catalyzed Kharasch reaction of alkenes and alkynes is enhanced by the use of a heterogeneous aqueous system, without the use of hydrophilic co-solvents or phase transfer catalysts. The Pd(0)-catalyzed reaction of terminal alkenes with bromotrichloromethane in water goes to completion within 2 h at room temperature, whereas no reaction occurs in benzene otherwise under the same conditions. The Pd(0) catalyst in aqueous media also effects the radical addition of iodoperfluoroalkanes toward terminal alkenes and alkynes at room temperature.