Palladium(II) complex with a potential N4-type Schiff-base ligand as highly efficient catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura reactions in aqueous media

Two new air-stable palladium(II) complexes containing a N4-Schiff-base ligand have been synthesized and investigated as catalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura reactions. The binuclear complex 2 has proven to be an excellent catalyst for additive-free Suzuki–Miyaura reactions of aryl bromides in neat water at room temperature and aryl chlorides in aqueous-glycerol at 80 °C. Satisfactory to excellent yields of biaryls are obtained with a wide range of substrates with relatively low loading of catalyst.