Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of Chiral Dicarbene Dipalladium Complexes Incorporating the S-binaphthol Unit

Abstract

A series of chiral di-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) dipalladium complexes, [{PdPyCl2}2(di-NHC)], in which di-NHC represents a di-imidazolylidene, featuring an (S)-3,3′-dimethyl-2,2′-dimethoxy-1,1′-binaphthalene spacer between the carbene units, have been prepared. The influence of ligand size on the catalytic activity of these complexes in the Suzuki reaction of phenylboronic acid with p-bromotoluene has been investigated. The most sterically hindered complex, bearing the di-isopropylphenyl group, showed the greatest catalytic activity, and it is active for various aryl halides with different electronic and steric properties.