Study on the Heck reaction promoted by carbene adduct of cyclopalladated ferrocenylimine and the related reaction mechanism

Carbene adduct of cyclopalladated ferrocenylimine has been successfully applied to Heck reaction of various aryl bromides with olefins. On the basis of kinetic studies, in situ 13C NMR spectra investigations and Hg poisoning experiments, it was proposed that the Heck reaction catalyzed by carbene adduct of cyclopalladated ferrocenylimine proceeded through a classical Pd(0)/Pd(II) cycle and such palladacycle was only a reservoir of the catalytically active Pd(0) species.