Electronically nonadiabatic interactions between molecules and metal surfaces are now well known. Evidence is particularly clear from studies of diatomic molecules that molecular vibration can be strongly coupled to electrons of the metal leading to efficient energy transfer between these two kinds of motion. Since molecular vibration is the same motion needed for bond breaking, it is logical t...

The synthesis of the novel electronically modified phosphinooxazoline (PHOX) ligand, (R)-5,5-dimethyl-(p-CF3)3-i-PrPHOX, is described. The utility of this PHOX ligand is explored in both enantio- and diastereoselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylations. These investigations prove (R)-5,5-dimethyl-(p-CF3)3-i-PrPHOX to be an effective and cost-efficient alternative to electronically modifie...