New Pd–NHC-complexes for the Mizoroki–Heck reaction

The synthesis and structural characterization of novel chelating N-aryl substituted palladium(II)–biscarbene-complexes is reported: 1,1′-bis(4-bromophenyl)-3,3′-methylene-diimidazoline-2,2′-diylidene-palladium(II)-dibromide, 1,1′-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-3,3′-methylene-diimidazoline-2,2′-diylidene-palladium(II)-dibromide and 1,1′-bis(4-n-butoxyphenyl)-3,3′-methylenediimidazoline-2,2′-diylidene-palladium(II)-dibromide have been synthesized in good yields. The catalytic activity of these 1,1′-aryl-3,3′-methylenediimidazoline-2,2′-diylidene-palladium(II)-dihalogenide complexes was tested for the Mizoroki–Heck reaction in comparison to 1,1′-(bis)methyl-3,3′-methylenediimidazoline-2,2′-diylidene-palladium(II)-dihalogenide complexes and to 1,1′-bis(phenyl)-3,3′-methylene-diimidazoline-2,2′-diylidene-palladium(II)-dibromide. The activity of the aryl substituted catalysts is significantly higher compared to the methyl substituted NHC complexes. They also allow the coupling of arylchlorides with olefins.