Palladate Precatalysts for the Formation of C-N and C-C Bonds

Abstract

A series of imidazolium-based palladate precatalysts has been synthesized and the catalytic activity of these air- and moisture-stable complexes evaluated as a function of the nature of the imidazolium counterion. These precatalysts can be converted under catalytic conditions to Pd-NHC species capable of enabling the Buchwald-Hartwig aryl amination and the α-arylation of ketones. Both reactions can be carried out efficiently under very mild operating conditions. The effectiveness of the protocol was tested on functionality-laden substrates.