Cp2Fe(PR2)2PdCl2 (R = i-Pr, t-Bu) complexes as air-stable catalysts for challenging Suzuki coupling reactions

[reaction: see text] The use of Cp(2)Fe(PR(2))(2)PdCl(2) (R = i-Pr and t-Bu) in Suzuki coupling reactions were illustrated using a high throughput screening approach. The di-tbpfPdCl(2) catalyst was shown to be the more active catalyst for unactivated and sterically challenging aryl chlorides. Comparison studies using the commercial catalysts dppfPdCl(2), (Ph(3)P)(2)PdCl(2), (Cy(3)P)(2)PdCl(2), DPEPhosPdCl(2), dppbPdCl(2), dppePdCl(2), Pd(t-Bu(3)P)(2), and [Pd(mu-Br)(t-Bu(3)P)](2) were also done for selected cases to demonstrate the superior activities of di-tbpfPdCl(2) and di-isoppfPdCl(2).     

Gold(I) phosphido complexes: synthesis, structure, and reactivity

Deprotonation of the phosphine complexes Au(PHR(2))Cl with aqueous ammonia gave the gold(I) phosphido complexes [Au(PR(2))](n)() (PR(2) = PMes(2) (1), PCy(2) (2), P(t-Bu)(2) (3), PIs(2) (4), PPhMes (5), PHMes (6); Mes = 2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2), Is = 2,4,6-(i-Pr)(3)C(6)H(2), Mes = 2,4,6-(t-Bu)(3)C(6)H(2), Cy = cyclo-C(6)H(11)). (31)P NMR spectroscopy showed that these complexes exist in solution as mixtures, presumably oligomeric rings of different sizes. X-ray crystallographic structure determinations on single oligomers of 1-4 revealed rings of varying size (n = 4, 6, 6, and 3, respectively) and conformation. Reactions of 1-3 and 5 with PPN[AuCl(2)] gave PPN[(AuCl)(2)(micro-PR(2))] (9-12, PPN = (PPh(3))(2)N(+)). Treatment of 3 with the reagents HI, I(2), ArSH, LiP(t-Bu)(2), and [PH(2)(t-Bu)(2)]BF(4) gave respectively Au(PH(t-Bu)(2))(I) (14), Au(PI(t-Bu)(2))(I) (15), Au(PH(t-Bu)(2))(SAr) (16, Ar = p-t-BuC(6)H(4)), Li[Au(P(t-Bu)(2))(2)] (17), and [Au(PH(t-Bu)(2))(2)]BF(4) (19).     

Bis(isothiocyanato)bis(phosphine) complexes of group 10 metals: reactivity toward organic isocyanides

Treatment of Ni(NCS)2(PMe2Ph)2 with organic isocyanides CN-R gave five-coordinate isocyanide Ni(II) complexes, Ni(CN-R)(NCS)2(PMe2Ph)2 (R = C6H3-2,6-Me2 (1), t-Bu (2)). Interestingly, the corresponding reaction of Ni(NCS)2(P(n-Pr)3)2 with 2 equiv. of CN-t-Bu gave an unusual compound, which exists as an ion pair of the trigonal bipyramidal cation [Ni(P(n-Pr)3)2(CN-t-Bu)3]2+ (3) and the dinuclear NCS-bridged anion [Ni(1,3-micro-NCS)(NCS)3]2(2-) (4). In contrast, Pd(NCS)2(P(n-Pr)3)2 underwent substitution with 2 equiv. of CN-t-Bu to give the four-coordinate mono(isocyanide) Pd(II) complex Pd(NCS)(SCN)(CN-t-Bu)(P(n-Pr)3) (5) via phosphine dissociation. Reactions of M(NCS)2L2 (M = Pd, Pt; L = PMe3, PEt3, PMePh2, P(n-Pr)3) with two equiv. of CN-R (R = t-Bu, i-Pr, C6H3-2,6-Me2) gave the corresponding bis(isocyanide) complexes [M(CN-R)2(PR3)2](SCN)2 (7-13), except for Pd(NCS)2(PEt3)2 that reacted with CN-R' (R' = i-Pr, C6H3-2,6-Me2) and produced the mono(isocyanide) Pd(II) complexes [Pd(CN-R')(SCN)(PEt3)2](SCN) (14 and 15). Finally, treatment of M(NCS)2(PMe3)2 (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) with sterically bulky isocyanide CN-C6H3-2,6-i-Pr2 gave various products, (16-18) depending on the identity of the metal.     

Aryl-fluoride reductive elimination from Pd(II): feasibility assessment from theory and experiment

DFT methods were used to elucidate features of coordination environment of Pd(II) that could enable Ar-F reductive elimination as an elementary C-F bond-forming reaction potentially amenable to integration into catalytic cycles for synthesis of organofluorine compounds with benign stoichiometric sources of F(-). Three-coordinate T-shaped geometry of Pd(II)Ar(F)L (L = NHC, PR(3)) was shown to offer kinetics and thermodynamics of Ar-F elimination largely compatible with synthetic applications, whereas coordination of strong fourth ligands to Pd or association of hydrogen bond donors with F each caused pronounced stabilization of Pd(II) reactant and increased activation barrier beyond the practical range. Decreasing donor ability of L promotes elimination kinetics via increasing driving force and para-substituents on Ar exert a sizable SNAr-type TS effect. Synthesis and characterization of the novel [Pd(C(6)H(4)-4-NO(2))ArL(mu-F)](2) (L = P(o-Tolyl)(3), 17; P(t-Bu)(3), 18) revealed stability of the fluoride-bridged dimer forms of the requisite Pd(II)Ar(F)L as the key remaining obstacle to Ar-F reductive elimination in practice. Interligand steric repulsion with P(t-Bu)(3) served to destabilize dimer 18 by 20 kcal/mol, estimated with DFT relative to PMe(3) analog, yet was insufficient to enable formation of greater than trace quantities of Ar-F; C-H activation of P(t-Bu)(3) followed by isobutylene elimination was the major degradation pathway of 18 while Ar/F- scrambling and Ar-Ar reductive elimination dominated thermal decomposition of 17. However, use of Buchwald's L = P(C(6)H(4)-2-Trip)(t-Bu)(2) provided the additional steric pressure on the [PdArL(mu-F)](2) core needed to enable formation of aryl-fluoride net reductive elimination product in quantifiable yields (10%) in reactions with both 17 and 18 at 60 degrees over 22 h.     

Pd/P(t-Bu)(3): a mild and general catalyst for Stille reactions of aryl chlorides and aryl bromides

Pd/P(t-Bu)(3) serves as an unusually reactive catalyst for Stille reactions of aryl chlorides and bromides, providing solutions to a number of long-standing challenges. An unprecedented array of aryl chlorides can be cross-coupled with a range of organotin reagents, including SnBu(4). Very hindered biaryls (e.g., tetra-ortho-substituted) can be synthesized, and aryl chlorides can be coupled in the presence of aryl triflates. The method is user-friendly, since a commercially available complex, Pd(P(t-Bu)(3))(2), is effective. Pd/P(t-Bu)(3) also functions as an active catalyst for Stille reactions of aryl bromides, furnishing the first general method for room-temperature cross-couplings.     

Mono- and binuclear cyclometallated palladium(II) complexes containing bridging (N,O-) and terminal (N-) imidate ligands: air stable, thermally robust and recyclable catalysts for cross-coupling processes

Novel dinuclear cyclometallated palladium complexes [{Pd(mu-NCO)(C circumflex accent N)}(2)], containing asymmetric imidato -NCO- bridging units have been synthesised [C circumflex accent N = 7,8-benzoquinolyl; -NCO- = succinimidate (1c), phthalimidate (1a-3a) or maleimidate (3c)]. The reaction of these complexes, and the previously reported analogous imidate precursors containing a phenylazophenyl (1a-3a) or 2-pyridylphenyl (1b-3b) backbone, with tertiary phosphines provides novel mononuclear N-bonded imidate derivatives of the general formula [Pd(C circumflex accent N)(imidate)(L)][L = PPh(3), P(4-F-C(6)H(4))(3) or P(4-MeO-C(6)H(4))(3)]. The single crystal structures of [Pd(azb)(phthalimidate)(P(4-MeO-C(6)H(4))(3))](9a) and [Pd(bzq)(phthalimidate)(PPh(3))](7c) have been established. Dinuclear complexes (1a-3a, 1b-3b, 1c-3c) demonstrate outstanding thermal stability in the solid-state, as shown by thermoanalytical techniques. A marked influence of bridging imidate groups on the initial decomposition temperature is observed. The dinuclear and mononuclear derivatives are shown to be active catalysts/precatalysts for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides with aryl boronic acids, and the Sonogashira reactions of aryl halides with phenyl acetylene (in the presence and absence of Cu(I) salts). The conversions appear to be dependent, to some extent, on the type of imidate ligand, suggesting a role for these pseudohalides in the catalytic cycle in both cross-coupling processes. Lower catalyst loadings in 'copper-free' Sonogashira cross-couplings favour higher turnover frequencies. We have further determined that these catalysts may be recycled using a poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)/methanol solvent medium in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. Once the reaction is complete, product extraction into a hexane/diethyl ether mixture (1 : 1, v/v) gives cross-coupled products in good yields (with purity > 95%). The polar phase can then be re-used several times without appreciable loss of catalytic activity.     

Highly active,air-stable palladium catalysts for the C-C and C-S bond-forming reactions of vinyl and aryl chlorides: use of commercially available [(t-Bu)(2)P(OH)](2)PdCl(2), [(t-Bu)(2)P(OH)PdCl(2)](2), and [[(t-Bu)(2)PO...H...OP(t-Bu)(2)]PdCl](2) as catalysts

Air-stable palladium complexes [(t-Bu)(2)P(OH)](2)PdCl(2), [(t-Bu)(2)P(OH)PdCl(2)](2), and [[(t-Bu)(2)PO...H...OP((t-Bu)(2)]PdCl](2) serve as efficient catalysts for a variety of cross-coupling reactions of vinyl and aryl chlorides with arylboronic acids, arylzinc reagents, and thiols to yield the corresponding styrene derivatives, biaryls, and thioethers. (31)P NMR and mechanistic studies argue that the phosphinous acid ligands in the complexes can be deprotonated in the presence of a base to yield an electron-rich anionic species, which is likely a catalyst intermediate, and dimeric [[(t-Bu)(2)PO...H...OP((t-Bu)(2)]PdCl](2) was isolated and cystallographically characterized. These anionic complexes are anticipated not only to accelerate the rate-determining oxidative addition of aryl chlorides but also to stabilize the palladium complexes in the catalytic cycle.     

Pd(PhCN)(2)Cl(2)/P(t-Bu)(3): a versatile catalyst for Sonogashira reactions of aryl bromides at room temperature

[reaction: see text] Pd(PhCN)(2)Cl(2)/P(t-Bu)(3) serves as an efficient and a versatile catalyst for room-temperature Sonogashira reactions of aryl bromides.     

Controlled Pd(0)/t-Bu(3)P-Catalyzed Suzuki Cross-Coupling Polymerization of AB-Type Monomers with PhPd(t-Bu(3)P)I or Pd(2)(dba)(3)/t-Bu(3)P/ArI as the Initiator

Controlled Pd(0)/t-Bu(3)P-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling polymerizations of AB-type monomers via the chain-growth mechanism with an ArPd(t-Bu(3)P)I complex as the initiator are described. ArPd(t-Bu(3)P)I complexes, either prepurified or generated in situ from Pd(2)(dba)(3)/t-Bu(3)P/ArI (dba = dibenzylideneacetone) without separation/purification, were found to be efficient initiators in general for the controlled Suzuki cross-coupling polymerization, with narrow polydispersity indexes (PDIs) of 1.13-1.35 being observed. The Pd(2)(dba)(3)/t-Bu(3)P/p-BrC(6)H(4)I combination was identified as a highly robust initiator system, with PDIs of ≤1.20 in general and as low as 1.13 being obtained. Higher number-average molecular weights (M(n)) were achieved without a significant increase in the PDI (from 1.14 for a polymer with a M(n) = 9500 to 1.20 for a polymer with M(n) = 31?400) by using a smaller amount of the Pd(2)(dba)(3)/t-Bu(3)P/p-BrC(6)H(4)I initiator in the polymerization.     

Aminocyclopentadienyl ruthenium complexes as racemization catalysts for dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols at ambient temperature

Aminocyclopentadienyl ruthenium complexes, which can be used as room-temperature racemization catalysts with lipases in the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of secondary alcohols, were synthesized from cyclopenta-2,4-dienimines, Ru(3)(CO)(12), and CHCl(3): [2,3,4,5-Ph(4)(eta(5)-C(4)CNHR)]Ru(CO)(2)Cl (4: R = i-Pr; 5: R = n-Pr; 6: R = t-Bu), [2,5-Me(2)-3,4-Ph(2)(eta(5)-C(4)CNHR)]Ru(CO)(2)Cl (7: R = i-Pr; 8: R = Ph), and [2,3,4,5-Ph(4)(eta(5)-C(4)CNHAr)]Ru(CO)(2)Cl (9: Ar = p-NO(2)C(6)H(4); 10: Ar = p-ClC(6)H(4); 11: Ar = Ph; 12: Ar = p-OMeC(6)H(4); 13: Ar = p-NMe(2)C(6)H(4)). The tests in the racemization of (S)-4-phenyl-2-butanol showed that 7 is the most active catalyst, although the difference decreased in the DKR. Complex 4 was used in the DKR of various alcohols; at room temperature, not only simple alcohols but also functionalized ones such as allylic alcohols, alkynyl alcohols, diols, hydroxyl esters, and chlorohydrins were successfully transformed to chiral acetates. In mechanistic studies for the catalytic racemization, ruthenium hydride 14 appeared to be a key species. It was the major organometallic species in the racemization of (S)-1-phenylethanol with 4 and potassium tert-butoxide. In a separate experiment, (S)-1-phenylethanol was racemized catalytically by 14 in the presence of acetophenone.     

Interception of tetrahedral intermediates in Pd(II)-mediated cycloalkenylations of olefinic enol ethers

The tetrahedral intermediate 3 has been intercepted during Pd(II)-cycloalkenylation of olefinic enolsilane 1 (R=SiMe₂t-Bu). In a related manner, the allyl and crotyl enol ethers 5–8 give with Pd(OAc)₂ acetoxy tetrahydrofurans (9, 12, 14, 16), convertible to butyrolactones or furans; competing Pd(II)-mediated Claisen rearrangement was not observed. The intramolecular Pd(II)-cycloalkenylation of the ketene acetal 17 leads to δ-lactones 18 and 19.     

Simple, efficient catalyst system for the palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl chlorides, bromides, and triflates

Palladium complexes supported by (o-biphenyl)P(t-Bu)(2) (3) or (o-biphenyl)PCy(2) (4) are efficient catalysts for the catalytic amination of a wide variety of aryl halides and triflates. Use of ligand 3 allows for the room-temperature catalytic amination of many aryl chloride, bromide, and triflate substrates, while ligand 4 is effective for the amination of functionalized substrates or reactions of acyclic secondary amines. The catalysts perform well for a large number of different substrate combinations at 80-110 degrees C, including chloropyridines and functionalized aryl halides and triflates using 0.5-1.0 mol % Pd; some reactions proceed efficiently at low catalyst levels (0.05 mol % Pd). These ligands are effective for almost all substrate combinations that have been previously reported with various other ligands, and they represent the most generally effective catalyst system reported to date. Ligands 3 and 4 are air-stable, crystalline solids that are commercially available. Their effectiveness is believed to be due to a combination of steric and electronic properties that promote oxidative addition, Pd-N bond formation, and reductive elimination.     

Synthesis of vanadium(III) complexes bearing iminopyrrolyl ligands and their role as thermal robust ethylene (co)polymerization catalysts

Bis(imino)pyrrolyl vanadium(III) complexes 2a-e [2,5-C(4)H(2)N(CH=NR)(2)]VCl(2)(THF)(2) [R = C(6)H(5) (2a), 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3) (2b), 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3) (2c), 2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2) (2d), C(6)F(5) (2e)] and bis(iminopyrrolyl) vanadium(III) complex 4f [C(4)H(3)N(CH=N-2,6-(i)PrC(6)H(3))](2)VCl(THF) have been prepared in good yields from VCl(3)(THF)(3) by treating with 1.0 and 2.0 equivalent deprotonated ligands in tetrahydrofuran (THF), respectively. These complexes were characterized by FTIR and mass spectra as well as elemental analysis. Structures of 2c and 4f were further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. DFT calculations indicated the configurations of 2a-e with two nitrogen atoms of the chelating ligand coordinating with vanadium metal centre were more stable in energy. These complexes were employed as catalysts for ethylene polymerization at various reaction conditions. On activation with Et(2)AlCl, these complexes exhibited high catalytic activities (up to 22.2 kg mmol(-1)(V) h(-1) bar(-1)) even at high temperature, suggesting these catalysts possessed remarkable thermal stability. Moreover, high molecular weight polymer with unimodal molecular weight distributions can be obtained, indicating the polymerization took place in a single-site nature. The copolymerizations of ethylene and 1-hexene with precatalysts 2a-e and 4f were also explored in the presence of Et(2)AlCl. Catalytic activity, comonomer incorporation, and properties of the resultant polymers can be controlled over a wide range by tuning catalyst structures and reaction parameters.     

Pseudo-rotation mechanism for fast olefin exchange and substitution processes at orthometalated C,N-complexes of platinum(II)

Bridge splitting in chloroform of the orthometalated chloro-bridged complex [Pt(micro-Cl)(2-Me(2)NCH(2)C(6)H(4))](2)(1), with ethene, cyclooctene, allyl alcohol and phosphine according to 1+ 2L --> 2[PtCl(2-Me(2)NCH(2)C(6)H(4))(L)], where L = C(2)H(4)(3a), C(8)H(14), (3b), CH(2)CHCH(2)OH (3c), and PPh(3)(4a and 4b) gives monomeric species with L coordinated trans or cis to aryl. With olefins the thermodynamically stable isomer with L coordinated cis to aryl is formed directly without an observable intermediate. With phosphine and pyridine, the kinetically controlled trans-product isomerizes slowly to the more stable cis-isomer. Bridge splitting by olefins is slow and first-order in 1 and L, with largely negative DeltaS(++). Substitution of ethene cis to aryl by cyclooctene and allyl alcohol to form 3b and 3c, and substitution of cot from 3b by allyl alcohol to form 3c are first order in olefin and complex, ca. six orders of magnitude faster than bridge cleavage due to a large decrease in DeltaH(++), and with largely negative DeltaS(++). Cyclooctene exchange at 3b is first-order with respect to free cyclooctene and platinum complex. All experimental data for olefin substitution and exchange are compatible with a concerted substitution/isomerization process via a turnstile twist pseudo-rotation in a short-lived labile five-coordinated intermediate, involving initial attack on the labile coordination position trans to the sigma-bonded aryl. Bridge-cleavage reactions of the analogous bridged complexes occur similarly, but are much slower because of their ground-state stabilization and steric hindrance.     

Pd2(dba)3/P(i-BuNCH2CH2)3N-catalyzed Stille cross-coupling of aryl chlorides

[reaction: see text] The Pd(2)(dba)(3)/P(i-BuNCH(2)CH(2))(3)N (1d) catalyst system is highly effective for the Stille cross-coupling of aryl chlorides with organotin compounds. This method represents only the second general method for the coupling of aryl chlorides. Other proazaphosphatranes possessing benzyl substituents also generate very active catalysts for Stille reactions. Noteworthy features of the method are: (a) commercial availability of ligand 1d, (b) the wide array of aryl chlorides that can be coupled, and (c) applicability to aryl, vinyl, and allyl tin reagents.     

Negishi cross-coupling reaction catalyzed by an aliphatic, phosphine based pincer complex of palladium. biaryl formation via cationic pincer-type Pd(IV) intermediates

The aliphatic, phosphine-based pincer complex [(C(10)H(13)-1,3-(CH(2)P(Cy(2))(2))Pd(Cl)] (1) is a highly active Negishi catalyst, enable to quantitatively couple various electronically activated, non-activated, deactivated, sterically hindered and functionalized aryl bromides with various diarylzinc reagents within short reaction times and low catalyst loadings. Experimental observations strongly indicate that a molecular mechanism is operative with initial chloride dissociation of 1 and formation of the cationic T-shaped 14e(-) complex [(C(10)H(13)-1,3-(CH(2)P(C(6)H(11))(2))(2))Pd](+) (B), which undergoes oxidative addition of an aryl bromide (Ar'Br) to yield the cationic, penta-coordinated aryl bromide pincer complexes of type [(C(10)H(13)-1,3-(CH(2)P(Cy(2))(2))Pd(Br)(aryl')](+) (C) with the metal center in the oxidation state of +IV and the aryl unit in cis position relative to the aliphatic pincer core. Subsequent transmetalation with Zn(aryl)(2) result in the cationic diaryl pincer complexes of type [(C(10)H(13)-1,3-(CH(2)P(Cy(2))(2))Pd(aryl)(aryl')](+) (D), which reductively eliminate the coupling products, thereby regenerating the catalyst. The neutral square planar aryl pincer complex--a possible key intermediate in the catalytic cycle--was found to be reversibly formed in the reaction mixture but is not involved in the catalytic mechanism. Similarly, palladium nanoparticles as the catalytically active form of 1 could have been excluded.     

Thermal activation of hydrocarbon C-H bonds initiated by a tungsten allyl complex

Gentle thermolysis of the allyl complex, CpW(NO)(CH(2)CMe(3))(eta(3)-H(2)CCHCMe(2)) (1), at 50 degrees C in neat hydrocarbon solutions results in the loss of neopentane and the generation of transient intermediates that subsequently activate solvent C-H bonds. Thus, thermal reactions of 1 with tetramethylsilane, mesitylene, and benzene effect single C-H activations and lead to the exclusive formation of CpW(NO)(CH(2)SiMe(3))(eta(3)-H(2)CCHCMe(2)) (2), CpW(NO)(CH(2)C(6)H(3)-3,5-Me(2))(eta(3)-H(2)CCHCMe(2)) (3), and CpW(NO)(C(6)H(5))(eta(3)-H(2)CCHCMe(2)) (4), respectively. The products of reactions of 1 with other methyl-substituted arenes indicate an inherent preference of the system for the activation of stronger arene sp(2) C-H bonds. For example, C-H bond activation of p-xylene leads to the formation of CpW(NO)(CH(2)C(6)H(4)-4-Me)(eta(3)-H(2)CCHCMe(2)) (5) (26%) and CpW(NO)(C(6)H(3)-2,5-Me(2))(eta(3)-H(2)CCHCMe(2)) (6) (74%). Mechanistic and labeling studies indicate that the transient C-H-activating intermediates are the allene complex, CpW(NO)(eta(2)-H(2)C=C=CMe(2)) (A), and the eta(2)-diene complex, CpW(NO)(eta(2)-H(2)C=CHC(Me)=CH(2)) (B). Intermediates A and B react with cyclohexene to form CpW(NO)(eta(3)-CH(2)C(2-cyclohexenyl)CMe(2))(H) (18) and CpW(NO)(eta(3)-CH(2)CHC)(Me)CH(2)C(beta)H(C(4)H(8))C(alpha)H (19), respectively, and intermediate A can be isolated as its PMe(3) adduct, CpW(NO)(PMe(3))(eta(2)-H(2)C=C=CMe(2)) (20). Interestingly, thermal reaction of 1 with 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene results in the formation of a species that undergoes eta(3) --> eta(1) isomerization of the dimethylallyl ligand following the initial C-H bond-activating step to yield CpW(NO)(eta(3)-CMe(2)CMeCH(2))(eta(1)-CH(2)CHCMe(2)) (21). Thermolyses of 1 in alkane solvents afford allyl hydride complexes resulting from three successive C-H bond-activation reactions. For instance, 1 in cyclohexane converts to CpW(NO)(eta(3)-C(6)H(9))(H) (22) with dimethylpropylcyclohexane being formed as a byproduct, and in methylcyclohexane it forms the two isomeric complexes, CpW(NO)(eta(3)-C(7)H(11))(H) (23a,b). All new complexes have been characterized by conventional spectroscopic methods, and the solid-state molecular structures of 2, 3, 4, 18, 19, 20, and 21 have been established by X-ray crystallographic analyses.     

Ethene/norbornene copolymerization with palladium(II) alpha-diimine catalysts: from ligand screening to discrete catalyst species

Sixteen palladium(II) alpha-diimine catalysts were investigated in a screening-like procedure for the copolymerization of ethene with norbornene. The resulting copolymers were characterized by (13)C NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, gel permeation chromatography, and viscosimetry. The degree of incorporation of norbornene in the polymer chain is very high for most of the catalysts. To validate the results achieved in the screening, two catalysts, [[ArN=CHCH=NAr]Pd(Me)(CH(3)CN)]BAr(f) (4) (1 b'; Ar=2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3), BAr(f) (4)=B[3,5-C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)](4)) and [[ArN=C(CH(3))C(CH(3))=NAr]Pd(Me)(CH(3)CN)]BAr(f) (4) (2 c'; Ar=2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)), were synthesized as discrete catalytically active species, and their copolymerization behavior was investigated in detail. In agreement with the screening results, 1 b' incorporates norbornene much better in the polymer chain than ethene, a property that has no analogue in metallocene catalysts.     

Palladium-catalyzed amination of aryl bromides with hindered N-alkyl-substituted anilines using a palladium(I) tri-tert-butylphosphine bromide dimer

An efficient palladium-catalyzed amination of aromatic bromides with hindered N-alkyl-substituted anilines is described, either using the combination of Pd(OAc)(2) and P(t-Bu)(3) or a palladium(I) tri-tert-butylphosphine bromide dimer, [Pd(mu-Br)(t-Bu(3)P)](2), a new, commercially available, and easily handled catalyst.     

Palladium-catalyzed arylation of malonates and cyanoesters using sterically hindered trialkyl- and ferrocenyldialkylphosphine ligands.

Palladium-catalyzed reactions of aryl bromides and chlorides with two common stabilized carbanions-enolates of dialkyl malonates and alkyl cyanoesters-are reported. An exploration of the scope of these reactions was conducted, and the processes were shown to occur in a general fashion. Using P(t-Bu)(3) (1), the pentaphenylferrocenyl ligand (Ph(5)C(5))Fe(C(5)H(4))P(t-Bu)(2) (2), or the adamantyl ligand (1-Ad)P(t-Bu)(2) (3), reactions of electron-poor and electron-rich, sterically hindered and unhindered aryl bromides and chlorides were shown to react with diethyl malonate, di-tert-butyl malonate, diethyl fluoromalonate, ethyl cyanoacetate, and ethyl phenylcyanoacetate. Although alkyl malonates and ethyl alkylcyanoacetates did not react with aryl halides using these catalysts, the same products were formed conveniently in one pot from diethylmalonate by cross-coupling of an aryl halide in the presence of excess base and subsequent alkylation.