Amphiphilic polymer supported N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complex for Suzuki cross-coupling reaction in water

We synthesized amphiphilic polymer-supported N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursor resins by loading polyethylene glycol (PEG) containing imidazolium groups on Merrifield resin. These PS-PEG-NHC precursor resins were compatible with water and readily formed a stable complex with palladium. These PS-PEG-NHC-Pd catalysts showed excellent catalytic activity for Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of various aryl iodides and bromides with phenylboronic acid in water than the previously described polystyrene based catalysts. In addition, the PS-PEG-NHC-Pd catalysts continued to provide excellent catalytic activity in Suzuki cross-coupling reactions after five consecutive recycles.