Mizoroki–Heck reaction, catalysis by nitrogen ligand Pd complexes and activation of aryl bromides

Nitrogen ligands are an excellent alternative for the traditional P-ligands in the Pd catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck reaction. Pd complexes of dimethyl glyoxime, 8-hydroxyquinoline, salen, picolinic acid, DAB ligands gave high yields of the E-cinnamates and E-stilbenes. Acetophenone oxime N,N-dimethybenzyl amine and ferrocenyl oxime palladacycle were better catalysts and comparable yields, TON (95,000) and TOFʹs (2500 h−1) to P-ligand catalysts, were obtained. Aryl iodides, aryl bromides and in a few cases, aryl chlorides could be also be activated by these complexes by the use of Lewis acid and (C4H9)4NI as additive. DAB ligands gave good yields with electron rich aryl bromides and the use of ionic liquid improved the yield. These metal complexes can be readily synthesized and the N-ligands possess the advantage of easy functional group modifications and convenient synthetic methods compared to P-ligands. The degradation reactions associated with P-ligands is not observed in the N-ligands, with comparable high thermal, moisture and air stability and insensitivity.