Application of dimeric ortho-palladated complex of 2-methoxyphenethylamine in the Heck coupling reaction

The application of the [Pd{C6H3(CH2CH2NH2)-4-OMe-5-?2-C,N}(?-Br)]2 complex of 2-methoxyphenethylamine in the Heck coupling reaction was considered under both conventional and microwave irradiation conditions, and their results were compared. This complex is an efficient, stable and non-sensitive to air and moisture catalyst for the vinylation of substituted aryl halides with different electronic properties. The cross-coupled products were produced in good to excellent yields using a catalytic amount of this complex in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) at 130 °C. In comparison to conventional heating conditions, the reactions under microwave irradiation gave higher yields in shorter reaction times.