Insights into the origin of high activity and stability of catalysts derived from bulky, electron-rich monophosphinobiaryl ligands in the Pd-catalyzed C-N bond formation

A comparative kinetic examination of catalyst systems based on several monophosphinobiaryl ligands is reported. The bulk of the phosphine ligand controls the catalytic activity and the rate of catalyst activation with the catalyst based on 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',4',6'-triisopropylbiphenyl providing the greatest activity and fastest activation. In the case where catalyst activation is slow (i.e., use of the smaller ligands such as 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2'-methylbiphenyl in combination with Pd(OAc)2) stirring the amine with the catalyst/base mixture prior to the commencement of the reaction increases the reaction rate along with the rate of catalyst activation. Kinetic isotope effects established that the catalyst activation process occurs through a beta-hydride elimination pathway.