Synthesis of a new class of unsymmetrical PCP′ pincer ligands and their palladium (II) complexes: X-ray structure determination of PdCl{C6H3-2-CH2PPh2-6-CH2PBu2}

The unsymmetrical PCP′ pincer ligands {C₆H₄-1-CH₂PPh₂-3-CH₂PBu^t₂} and {C₆H₄-1-CH₂PPh₂-3-CH₂PPrⁱ₂} and the corresponding palladium complexes: PdCl{C₆H₃-2-CH₂PPh₂-6-CH₂PBu^t₂} and PdCl{C₆H₃-2-CH₂PPh₂-6-CH₂PPrⁱ₂} have been synthesized in good yields. The molecular structure of PdCl{C₆H₃-2-CH₂PPh₂-6-CH₂PBu^t₂} was determined through a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The palladium center was found to be located into a slightly distorted square planar environment in which the {C₆H₄-1-CH₂PPh₂-3-CH₂PBu^t₂} ligand is coordinated as a tridentate, PCP pincer type chelate. The complex, PdCl{C₆H₃-2-CH₂PPh₂-6-CH₂PPrⁱ₂} catalyzes the Heck coupling of iodobenzene with styrene.