Short synthesis of bis-NHC-Pd catalyst derived from caffeine and its applications to Suzuki, Heck, and Sonogashira reactions in aqueous solution

A short and efficient synthesis of a bis-NHC-palladium catalyst simply prepared from caffeine in two steps was reported. The air and moisture stable Pd catalyst can be used as a good catalyst in running Suzuki–Miyaura, Mizoroki–Heck, and Sonogashira reactions in aqueous solution.