Synthesis of novel palladium OCN-pincer complexes: unprecedented sequential C(sp^3)–H activation and aerobic oxidation in the reaction of N,N-dialkyl-3-[(N,N-dimethylamino)methyl]-2-iodoanilines with Pd2(dba)3

The reaction of N,N-dialkyl-3-[(N,N-dimethylamino)methyl]-2-iodoanilines with Pd2(dba)3 under O2 gives palladium OCN-pincer complexes by means of an unprecedented process that involves the formal aerobic oxidation of C(sp^3)–H bonds at the (alpha)position of the aniline N atom.