Synthesis of a new bidentate ferrocenyl N-heterocyclic carbene ligand precursor and the palladium (II) complex trans-[PdCl2(C∧fc∧C)], where (C∧fc∧C) = 1,1′-di-tert-butyl-3,3′-(1,1′-dimethyleneferrocenyl)-diimidazol-2-ylidene

A new ferrocenyl-N-heterocyclic carbene ligand precursor 1,1′-bis[(1-tert-butylimidazolium)-3-methyl]ferrocene dichloride has been synthesised and structurally characterised. The imidazolium salt was readily deprotonated in situ with KN(SiMe3)2 and reacted with [PdCl2 (cod)] to afford the structurally characterised palladium (II) complex trans-[PdCl2(C∧fc∧C)], where (cod) = 1,5-cyclooctadiene and (C∧fc∧C) = 1,1′-di-tert-butyl-3,3′-(1,1′-dimethyleneferrocenyl)-diimidazol-2-ylidene.