Catalytic Enantio- and Diastereoselective Allylations with Nucleophilic p-Allylpalladium Complexes Elizabeth R. Jarvo, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine CA 92697 Efficient catalytic reactions enable the production of bulk and fine chemicals from petroleum-based resources. Despite the advanced state of synthetic chemistry serious challenges remain. As such, the development of new catalytic processes is a critical component of petroleum research. In this project we are developing new chemical reactions for allylation and alkylation of electrophiles. Allylation reactions that utilize alkyl halides as starting materials are particularly practical reactions. We have identified conditions for efficient allylation and benzylation reaction that utilizes allyl bromide or benzyl bromide with catalytic quantities of silver bromide and stoichiometric quantities of manganese powder. We propose a mechanism which involves formation of a nucleophilic allylmangangese intermediate. In our future studies we will develop other C–C bond forming reactions that proceed through organometallic intermediates generated by single electron transfer from an organometallic catalyst to an organic substrate.