Pentafluorophenyl imidato palladium(II) complexes: catalysts for Suzuki cross-coupling reactions

Novel N-bonded imidato complexes of general formula Pd(N-N)(C6F5)(imidate)](imidate = maleimidate, succinimidate or phthalimidate; N-N = 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy), 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Me2bipy) or N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda)), NBu4]Pd(C6F5)(H2O)(succinimidate)2] and NBu4]Pd(C6F5)(L)(succinimidate)2](L = PPh3 or t-BuNC) have been synthesised. These complexes are air-, light- and moisture-stable. The crystal structures of Pd(tmeda)(C6F5)(maleimidate)].H2O.0.5CHCl3, NBu4]Pd(C6F5)(H2O)(succinimidate)2].H2O and NBu4]Pd(C6F5)(t-BuNC)(succinimidate)2].2H2O have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Many of these new complexes are shown to be active phosphine-free palladium catalysts/precatalysts for the Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides and aryl chlorides with phenylboronic acid.