Synthesis of binuclear palladium complexes with a rigid phenylene bridge linker

The complexes [PdX₂Py]₂(di-NHC) (X = Br or Cl) in which di-NHC represents a di-N-heterocyclic carbene, featuring a rigid phenylene spacer between the carbene units, have been prepared from reactions of the corresponding diimidazolium halide salts with PdCl₂ in pyridine. The molecular structures of three of the complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The influences of different substitutions and of the halide ligand (Br or Cl) on the structure and reactivity of the complexes have been studied. The catalytic activity of the binuclear palladium complexes was tested in the Mizoroki–Heck reaction of styrene with bromobenzene.