Distinct mechanisms for the oxidative addition of chloro-, bromo-, and iodoarenes to a bisphosphine palladium(0) complex with hindered ligands

We report an example of a bisphosphine palladium(0) complex with hindered ligands that undergoes oxidative addition of chloro-, bromo-, and iodoarenes in high yield. Addition of PhX (X = I, Br, Cl) to [Pd(Q-phos-tol)2] produced [Pd(Q-phos-tol)(Ph)(I)], [Pd(Q-phos-tol)(Ph)(Br)], and [Pd(Q-phos-tol)(Ph)(Cl)]2. To study the mechanisms of the oxidative addition of the three haloarenes to [Pd(Q-phos-tol)2], we determined the order of the reaction on the concentration of ligand and haloarene. The different haloarenes reacted through different mechanistic pathways. Addition of iodobenzene occurred by irreversible associative displacement of a phosphine. Addition of bromobenzene occurred by rate-limiting dissociation of phosphine. Addition of chlorobenzene occurred by reversible dissociation of phosphine, followed by rate-limiting oxidative addition. The mechanism of exchange of ligands from the Pd(0)L2 was also studied. The rate constant value for dissociation of ligand calculated from ligand exchange experiments is in agreement with the value calculated through experiments on oxidative addition.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric phosphination. Scope, mechanism, and origin of enantioselectivity

Asymmetric cross-coupling of aryl iodides (ArI) with secondary arylphosphines (PHMe(Ar'), Ar' = (2,4,6)-R3C6H2; R = i-Pr (Is), Me (Mes), Ph (Phes)) in the presence of the base NaOSiMe3 and a chiral Pd catalyst precursor, such as Pd((R,R)-Me-Duphos)(trans-stilbene), gave the tertiary phosphines PMe(Ar')(Ar) in enantioenriched form. Sterically demanding secondary phosphine substituents (Ar') and aryl iodides with electron-donating para substituents resulted in the highest enantiomeric excess, up to 88%. Phosphination of ortho-substituted aryl iodides required a Pd(Et-FerroTANE) catalyst but gave low enantioselectivity. Observations during catalysis and stoichiometric studies of the individual steps suggested a mechanism for the cross-coupling of PhI and PHMe(Is) (1) initiated by oxidative addition to Pd(0) yielding Pd((R,R)-Me-Duphos)(Ph)(I) (3). Reversible displacement of iodide by PHMe(Is) gave the cation [Pd((R,R)-Me-Duphos)(Ph)(PHMe(Is))][I] (4), which was isolated as the triflate salt and crystallographically characterized. Deprotonation of 4-OTf with NaOSiMe3 gave the phosphido complex Pd((R,R)-Me-Duphos)(Ph)(PMeIs) (5); an equilibrium between its diastereomers was observed by low-temperature NMR spectroscopy. Reductive elimination of 5 yielded different products depending on the conditions. In the absence of a trap, the unstable three-coordinate phosphine complex Pd((R,R)-Me-Duphos)(PMeIs(Ph)) (6) was formed. Decomposition of 5 in the presence of PhI gave PMeIs(Ph) (2) and regenerated 3, while trapping with phosphine 1 during catalysis gave Pd((R,R)-Me-Duphos)(PHMe(Is))2 (7), which reacted with PhI to give 3. Deprotonation of 1:1 or 1.4:1 mixtures of cations 4-OTf gave the same 6:1 ratio of enantiomers of PMeIs(Ph) (2), suggesting that the rate of P inversion in 5 was greater than or equal to the rate of reductive elimination. Kinetic studies of the first-order reductive elimination of 5 were consistent with a Curtin-Hammett-Winstein-Holness (CHWH) scheme, in which pyramidal inversion at the phosphido ligand was much faster than P-C bond formation. The absolute configuration of the phosphine (SP)-PMeIs(p-MeOC6H4) was determined crystallographically; NMR studies and comparison to the stable complex 5-Pt were consistent with an RP-phosphido ligand in the major diastereomer of the intermediate Pd((R,R)-Me-Duphos)(Ph)(PMeIs) (5). Therefore, the favored enantiomer of phosphine 2 appeared to be formed from the major diastereomer of phosphido intermediate 5, although the minor intermediate diastereomer underwent P-C bond formation about three times more rapidly. The effects of the diphosphine ligand, the phosphido substituents, and the aryl group on the ratio of diastereomers of the phosphido intermediates Pd(diphos*)(Ar)(PMeAr'), their rates of reductive elimination, and the formation of three-coordinate complexes were probed by low-temperature 31P NMR spectroscopy; the results were also consistent with the CHWH scheme.     

Transmetalation of arylpalladium and platinum complexes. Mechanism and factors to control the reaction

This article reviews recent studies on intra- and intermolecular transfer of the aryl ligand bonded to Pd(II) and Pt(II). Cationic arylpalladium complexes with bpy and THF ligands undergo intermolecular aryl group transfer to produce biaryl via a diarylpalladium intermediate. This reaction is applied to cyclization of cationic dinuclear arylpalladium complexes, affording the crown ether derivative with biphenylene units. Analogous arylplatinum complexes do not form diaryl complexes via transmetalation, while they react with CO and phenylallene to cause replacement of the coordinated solvent and insertion of the small molecules into the Pt–C bond, respectively. Conproportionation of PtCl₂(cod) and PtPh₂(cod) produces PtCl(Ph)(cod), which is induced by dissociation of a Cl ligand from the former complex. PtCl₂(cod) reacts also with diarylplatinum complexes with bpy and dppe. Disproportionation of PtPh(CH₂COMe)(cod) and conproportionation of PtPh₂(cod) and Pt(CH₂COMe)₂(cod) take place at 50 °C, but the rates of apparently reversible reactions differ from each other. Addition of OH⁻ to a solution of PtI(Ph)(cod) causes intermolecular phenyl ligand transfer to produce PtPh₂(cod). The dinuclear intermediate complex with bridging OH ligand is prepared from an independent route and fully characterized. The complex causes transmetalation of aryl group of aryl boronic acid.     

Di-t-butyl(ferrocenylmethyl)phosphine: air-stability, structural characterization, coordination chemistry, and application to palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

Di-t-butyl(ferrocenylmethyl)phosphine (1) has been isolated and structurally characterized. This ligand was found to be reasonably air stable as a solid and it has been shown to possess electron donating ability similar to that of tri-i-propylphosphine. A palladium catalyst bearing this ligand performed room temperature Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions with aryl bromides. Modest Heck coupling reactivity with aryl bromides was also observed at 100 °C. Complexation of 1 with Pd₂(dba)₃ led to formation of (1)₂Pd⁰. Addition of 4-bromoanisole to solutions containing both 1 and Pd₂(dba)₃ led to formation of an oxidative addition product when 1:Pd ratios were ?1. With a 2:1 ratio of 1:Pd, monophosphine complex formation and oxidative addition were significantly inhibited.     

Trans influence on the rate of reductive elimination. Reductive elimination of amines from isomeric arylpalladium amides with unsymmetrical coordination spheres

To determine the trans effect on the rates of reductive eliminations from arylpalladium(II) amido complexes, the reactions of arylpalladium amido complexes bearing symmetrical and unsymmetrical DPPF (DPPF = bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) derivatives were studied. THF solutions of LPd(Ar)(NMeAr') (L = DPPF, DPPF-OMe, DPPF-CF3, DPPF-OMe,Ph, DPPF-Ph,CF3, and DPPF-OMe,CF3; Ar = C6H4-4-CF3; Ar' = C6H4-4-CH3, Ph, and C6H4-4-OMe) underwent C-N bond forming reductive elimination at -15 C to form the corresponding N-methyldiarylamine in high yield. Complexes ligated by symmetrical DPPF derivatives with electron-withdrawing substituents on the DPPF aryl groups underwent reductive elimination faster than complexes ligated by symmetrical DPPF derivatives with electron-donating substituents on the ligand aryl groups. Studies of arylpalladium amido complexes containing unsymmetrical DPPF ligands revealed several trends. First, the complex with the weaker donor trans to nitrogen and the stronger donor trans to the palladium-bound aryl group underwent reductive elimination faster than the regioisomeric complex with the stronger donor trans to nitrogen and the weaker donor trans to the palladium-bound aryl group. Second, the effect of varying the substituents on the phosphorus donor trans to the nitrogen was larger than the effect of varying the substituents on the phosphorus donor trans to the palladium-bound aryl group. Third, the difference in rate between the isomeric arylpalladium amido complexes was similar in magnitude to the differences in rates resulting from conventional variation of substituents on the symmetric phosphine ligands. This result suggests that the geometry of the complex is equal in importance to the donating ability of the dative ligands. The ratio of the differences in rates of reaction of the isomeric complexes was similar to the relative populations of the two geometric isomers. This result and consideration of transition state geometries suggest that the reaction rates are controlled more by substituent effects on ground state stability than on transition state energies. In addition, variation of the aryl group at the amido nitrogen showed systematically that complexes with more electron-donating groups at nitrogen undergo faster reductive elimination than those with less electron-donating groups at nitrogen.     

Improvements in cross coupling reactions of hypervalent siloxane derivatives

[formula: see text] The scope of the palladium-catalyzed cross coupling reaction of aryl halides with phenyltrimethoxysilane has been expanded to include aryl bromides, heteroaryl bromides, and aryl chlorides. A more general Pd(0)-catalyst/ligand system has been developed to activate bromides: palladium(II) acetate (Pd(OAc)2) is activated with triphenylphosphine (PPh3) or tri-o-tolylphosphine (P(o-tol)3) (1:2 molar ratio of Pd:phosphine). Coupling of aryl chloride derivatives required addition of 2-(dicyclohexylphosphino)biphenyl (Buchwald's ligand) to Pd2dba3 (tris-(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0)) (1:1.5 molar ratio of Pd:phosphine).     

Autocatalytic oxidative addition of PhBr to Pd(PtBu3)2 via Pd(PtBu3)2(H)(Br)

We report that oxidative addition of bromobenzene to Pd(PtBu3)2 occurs by an unusual autocatalytic mechanism. Studies on the effect of various additives showed that the degree of rate acceleration followed the trend: (PtBu3)Pd(Ph)(Br) approximately (HPtBu3)Br < [(PtBu3)Pd(mu-Br)]2 < (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br). Studies on the reactions of Pd(PtBu3)2 in the presence of (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br) showed that the concentration of (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br) decreased only after the Pd(0) complex had been consumed. These data indicated that the catalyst in this process is (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br). Thermal decomposition of the three-coordinate oxidative addition product (PtBu3)Pd(Ar)(Br) during the reaction of Pd(PtBu3)2 and bromoarenes ultimately leads to formation of (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br). Parallel reactions of bromobenzene with (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br) and Pd(PtBu3)2 showed that the bromoarenes reacted considerably faster with the Pd(II) species than with the Pd(0) species. We therefore propose a catalytic cycle for oxidative addition in which PBut3.HBr reacts with the Pd(0) species to form (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br), and (PtBu3)2Pd(H)(Br) reacts with the bromoarene, possibly though the anionic species [HPtBu3+][(PtBu3)Pd(Br)-], to form [Pd(PtBu3)(Ar)(Br)].     

Reevaluation of the mechanism of the amination of aryl halides catalyzed by BINAP-ligated palladium complexes

Two previous mechanistic studies of the amination of aryl halides catalyzed by palladium complexes of 1,1'-binaphthalene-2,2'-diylbis(diphenylphosphine) (BINAP) are reexamined by the authors of both studies. This current work includes a detailed study of the identity of the BINAP-ligated palladium complexes present in reactions of amines with aryl halides and rate measurements of these catalytic reactions initiated with pure precatalysts and precatalysts generated in situ from [Pd2(dba)3] and BINAP. This work reveals errors in both previous studies, and we describe our current state of understanding of the mechanism of this synthetically important transformation. 31P NMR spectroscopy shows that several palladium(0) species are present in the catalytic system when the catalyst is generated in situ from [Pd2(dba)3] and BINAP, and that at least two of these complexes generate catalytic intermediates. Further, these spectroscopic studies and accompanying kinetic data demonstrate that an apparent positive order in the concentration of amine during reactions of secondary amines is best attributed to catalyst decomposition. Kinetic studies with isolated precatalysts show that the rates of the catalytic reactions are independent of the identity and the concentration of amine, and studies with catalysts generated in situ show that the rates of these reactions are independent of the concentration of amine. Further, reactions catalyzed by [Pd(BINAP)2] with added BINAP are found to be first-order in bromoarene and inverse first-order in ligand, in contrast to previous work indicating zero-order kinetics in both. These data, as well as a correlation between the decay of bromobenzene in the catalytic reaction and the predicted decay of bromobenzene from rate constants of studies on stoichiometric oxidative addition, are consistent with a catalytic process in which oxidative addition of the bromoarene occurs to [Pd(BINAP)] prior to coordination of amine and in which [Pd(BINAP)2], which generates [Pd(BINAP)] by dissociation of BINAP, lies off the cycle. By this mechanism, the amine and base react with [Pd(BINAP)(Ar)(Br)] to form an arylpalladium amido complex, and reductive elimination from this amido complex forms the arylamine.     

Insights into amine binding to biaryl phosphine palladium oxidative addition complexes and reductive elimination from biaryl phosphine arylpalladium amido complexes via density functional theory

We present results on the binding of a variety amines to monoligated oxidative addition complexes of the type L1Pd(Ar)Cl, where L is 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',6'-dimethoxybiphenyl (SPhos, 1) or 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',4',6'-tri-ispropylbiphenyl (XPhos, 2). The binding of an amine to oxidative addition complexes composed of 1 and 2 is more complex than with smaller ligands as intermediate Pd(II) complexes with bulky biaryl phosphine ligands disfavor amine binding to favorable conformations of oxidative addition complexes. Additionally, thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for reductive elimination from complexes of the type L1Pd(amido)Ph (where amido = EtNH, Me2N, PhNH) are discussed. From this data, we suggest a possible mechanism for (biaryl phosphine) Pd-catalyzed amination reactions that is more intricate than previously thought.     

Oxidative addition of aryl tosylates to palladium(0) and coupling of unactivated aryl tosylates at room temperature

Aryl tosylates are attractive substrates for Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, but they are much less reactive than the more commonly used aryl triflates. We report the oxidative addition of aryl tosylates to Pd(PPF-t-Bu)[P(o-tolyl)3] and to Pd(CyPF-t-Bu)[P(o-tolyl)3] at room temperature to produce the corresponding palladium(II) aryl tosylate complexes. In the presence of added bromide ions, arylpalladium(II) bromide complexes were formed. The rate of oxidative addition was accelerated by addition of either coordinating or weakly coordinating anions, and the reactions were faster in more polar solvents. The mild conditions for oxidative addition allowed for the development of Pd-catalyzed Kumada couplings and amination reactions of unactivated aryl tosylates at room temperature. The catalysts for these mild couplings of aryl tosylates were generated from palladium precursors and the sterically hindered Josiphos-type ligands that induced oxidative addition of aryl tosylates to Pd(0) at room temperature.     

Synthesis and reactivity of azapalladacyclobutanes

N-Sulfonyl aziridines undergo oxidative addition to palladium(0) complexes generated in situ from mixtures of Pd2(dba)3 and 1,10-phenanthroline. The resulting azapalladacyclobutane complexes undergo intramolecular carbopalladation in the presence of copper(I) iodide to afford azapalladabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes. A deuterium-labeling experiment indicates that the oxidative addition proceeds via SN2-type attack of palladium(0) on the less-hindered carbon of the aziridine ring and that alkene insertion occurs in a syn fashion. The azapalladabicyclo[3.2.1]octane complexes undergo oxidative palladium-carbon bond functionalization in the presence of copper(II) bromide.     

Synthesis of 9-alkylidene-9H-fluorenes by a novel, palladium-catalyzed cascade reaction of aryl halides and 1-aryl-1-alkynes.

In the presence of a palladium catalyst and NaOAc, aryl iodides react with 1-aryl-1-alkynes to afford 9-alkylidene-9H-fluorenes in good yields. The products from this reaction are highly dependent on the base employed. This process appears to involve (1) oxidative addition of the aryl iodide to Pd(0), (2) alkyne insertion, (3) rearrangement of the resulting vinylic palladium intermediate to an arylpalladium species, and (4) aryl-aryl coupling with simultaneous regeneration of the Pd(0) catalyst. Consistent with this mechanism is the fact that 9-alkylidene-9H-fluorenes can also be prepared by the Pd-catalyzed rearrangement of 1,1-diaryl-2-iodo-1-alkenes.     

Preparation and characterization of the first pyrazole-based remote N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of palladium(II)

The first pyrazolin-4-ylidene complexes of palladium(II) have been synthesized by oxidative addition of 4-iodopyrazolium salts to Pd(2)(dba)3/PPh(3) and were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopies, ESI mass spectrometry and X-ray diffraction studies.     

The Suzuki reaction in aqueous media promoted by P, N ligands

The synthesis and structure of palladium complexes of trisubstituted PTA derivatives, PTA(R3), are described. Water-soluble phosphine ligands 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadmantane (PTA), tris(aminomethyl)phosphine trihydrobromide, tri(aminomethyl) phosphine, 3,7-dimethyl-1,5,7-triaza-3-phosphabicyclo[3,3,1]nonane (RO-PTA), 3,7-diacetyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (DAPTA), lithium 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane-6-carboxylate (PTA-CO?Li), 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo [3.3.1.1]decane, and 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1]decane were used as ligands for palladium catalyzed Suzuki reactions in aqueous media. RO-PTA in combination with palladium acetate or palladium chloride was the most active catalyst for Suzuki cross coupling of aryl bromides and phenylboronic acid at 80 °C in 1:1 water:acetonitrile. The activity of Pd(II) complexes of RO-PTA is comparable to PPh?(m-C?H?SO?Na) (TPPMS) and P(m-C?H?SO?Na)? (TPPTS) and less active than tri(4,6-dimethyl-3-sulfonatophenyl)phosphine trisodium salt (TXPTS). Activated, deactivated, and sterically hindered aryl bromides were examined, with yields ranging from 50% to 90% in 6 h with 5% palladium precatalyst loading. X-ray crystal structures of (RO-PTA)PdCl?, (PTA(R3))?PdCl? (R = Ph, p-tert-butylC?H?), and PTA(R3) (R = p-tert-butylC?H?) are reported.     

Directly observed reductive elimination of aryl halides from monomeric arylpalladium(II) halide complexes

Monomeric, three-coordinate arylpalladium(II) halide complexes undergo reductive elimination of aryl halide to form free haloarene and Pd(0). Reductive elimination of aryl chlorides, bromides, and iodides were observed upon the addition of P(t-Bu)3 to Pd[P(t-Bu)3](Ar)(X) (X = Cl, Br, I). Conditions to observe the equilibrium between reductive elimination and oxidative addition were established with five haloarenes. Reductive elimination of aryl chloride was most favored thermodynamically, and elimination of aryl iodide was the least favored. However, reductive elimination from the aryl chloride complex was the slowest, and reductive elimination from the aryl bromide complex was the fastest. These data show that the electronic properties of the halide, not the thermodynamic driving force for the addition of elimination reaction, control the rates for addition and elimination of haloarenes. Mechanistic data suggest that reversible reductive elimination of aryl bromide to form Pd[P(t-Bu)3] and free aryl bromide is followed by rate-limiting coordination of P(t-Bu)3 to form Pd[P(t-Bu)3]2.     

Aryl transfer between Pd(II) centers or Pd(IV) intermediates in Pd-catalyzed domino reactions

A computational study has been performed to determine the mechanism of the key steps of Pd-catalyzed domino reactions in which C(sp2)-C(sp2) are formed from aryl and alkenyl halides. DFT calculations were done on model complexes of the proposed intermediates, with PH3 and H2O as ancillary ligands, to explore two possible mechanisms: the oxidative addition of aryl or alkenyl halides to palladacycles to give Pd(IV) intermediates, and the transmetalation-type reaction of aryl or alkenyl ligands between two Pd(II) centers, a palladacycle, and a Pd(II) complex formed by oxidative addition of aryl or alkenyl halides to Pd0. We have shown that oxidative addition of iodoethylene to Pd0 precursors is more favorable than oxidative addition to Pd(II) palladacycles, whereas transmetalation-type reactions between Pd(II) complexes are facile. Similar results were obtained with iodobenzene instead of iodoethylene and formamide as the ancillary ligand. These results suggest that Pd(IV) intermediates are not involved in these reactions.     

Oxidative addition of N-halosuccinimides to palladium(0): the discovery of neutral palladium(II) imidate complexes, which enhance Stille coupling of allylic and benzylic halides

The Stille coupling of organostannanes and organohalides, mediated by air and moisture stable palladium(II) phosphine complexes containing succinimide or phthalimide (imidate) ligands, has been investigated. An efficient synthetic route to several palladium(II) complexes containing succinimide and phthalimide ligands, has been developed. cis-Bromobis(triphenylphosphine)(N-succinimide)palladium(II) [(Ph₃P)₂Pd(N-Succ)Br] is shown to mediate the Stille coupling of allylic and benzylic halides with alkenyl, aryl and allyl stannanes. In competition experiments between 4-nitrobromobenzene and benzyl bromide with a cis-stannylvinyl ester, (Ph₃P)₂Pd(N-Succ)Br preferentially cross-couples benzyl bromide, whereas with other commonly employed precatalysts 4-nitrobromobenzene undergoes preferential cross-coupling. Furthermore, preferential reaction of deactivated benzyl bromides over activated benzyl bromides is observed for the first time. The type of halide and presence of a succinimide ligand are essential for effective Stille coupling. The type of phosphine ligand is also shown to alter the catalytic activity of palladium(II) succinimide complexes.     

Second Comes First: Switching Elementary Steps in Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions

The electron-poor palladium(0) complex L₃Pd (L=tris[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phosphine) reacts with Grignard reagents RMgX and organolithium compounds RLi via transmetalation to furnish the anionic organopalladates [L₂PdR]⁻, as shown by negative-ion mode electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry. These palladates undergo oxidative additions of organyl halides R′X (or related S_N2-type reactions) followed by further transmetalation. Gas-phase fragmentation of the resulting heteroleptic palladate(II) complexes results in the reductive elimination of the cross-coupling products RR′. This reaction sequence corresponds to a catalytic cycle, in which the order of the elementary steps of transmetalation and oxidative addition is switched relative to that of palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions proceeding via neutral intermediates. An attractive feature of the palladate-based catalytic system is its ability to mediate challenging alkyl–alkyl coupling reactions. However, the poor stability of the phosphine ligand L against decomposition reactions has so far prevented its successful use in practical applications.     

1,8-Dimethylnaphthalene-bridged diphosphine ligands: synthesis and structural comparison of their palladium complexes

The synthesis of a new series of ligands with a 1,8-dimethylnaphthalene backbone is reported, 1,8-(R2PCH2)2C10H6, where R = (t)Bu 1 (dbpn), (i)Pr 2 (dippn), Cy 3 (dchpn) and Ph 4 (dphpn). The ligand 1 is structurally characterised by X-ray crystallography. A comparative structural study of the respective (diphosphine)Pd(dba) and (diphosphine)PdCl2 complexes is carried out, comparing the X-ray crystal structures of complexes 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12. It is shown that the geometry at the metal is affected by not only ligand demands, but also by the palladium oxidation state and the electronic properties of the ligands. Two qualitative stability series are also identified: 9 < 10 < 11 approximately 12 is observed, and P2Pd(dba) complexes are more stable than the corresponding P2PdCl2 complexes towards opening of the chelate ring. It is also concluded that the bite angle is heavily influenced by the electron donating properties of the ligand.     

General synthesis of meso-amidoporphyrins via palladium-catalyzed amidation

A series of meso-amidoporphyrins were facilely synthesized by direct reactions of meso-brominated porphyrins with amides via palladium-catalyzed amidation reaction. Using a combination of palladium precursor Pd(OAc)(2) or Pd(2)(dba)(3) and phosphine ligand Xantphos, both 5-bromo-10,20-diphenylporphyrin and 5,15-dibromo-10,20-diphenylporphyrin, as well as their zinc complexes, can be effectively coupled with a wide variety of amides to give the corresponding mono- and bis-substituted meso-amidoporphyrins in high yields under mild conditions. [reaction: see text]