Pyridine functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of palladium

Abstract

The pyridine functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene complexes (C–N)PdMeBr, C–N = 3-R-1-(2-picolyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene, (R = But 1a, R = mes 1b, mes = mesityl) are described; they are excellent catalysts for the Heck arylation; 1b is monomeric with a chelating C–N ligand; the product obtained by interaction of 1a with AgO2CCF3 shows a [Pd(C–N)]4 framework with bridging C–N ligands.