Observed Instability of Bound Pybox Ligands Towards Acetate Counter-ions

Reaction of Pd(OAc)2 with bis(oxazolinyl)- pyridine (pybox) ligands led cleanly to products that contained a ring-opened oxazoline ring. The transforma- tions were formally the result of the attack of bound pybox ligands by acetate counterions, leading to acetate incorporation into the ring-opened products.