Highly selective photo-catalytic dimerization of (alpha)-methylstyrene by a novel palladium complex with photosensitizing ruthenium(II) polypyridyl moiety

A novel dinuclear complex containing the photo-sensitizing Ru unit and a Pd center is effective toward selective catalytic dimerization of (alpha)-methylstyrene leading to 2,4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene under visible-light irradiated conditions.