An imidazolium ionic liquid having covalently attached an oxime carbapalladacycle complex as ionophilic heterogeneous catalysts for the Heck and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling

An oxime carbapalladacycle, analogous to that used as catalyst in homogeneous phase, has been derivatized to increase its ionophilicity by introducing an imidazolium group covalently attached through a chain at the complex. The resulting complex is soluble in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquid (bmimPF₆) and not extractable by ether. The catalytic activity of this palladium complex in bmimPF₆ is, however, unsatisfactory and only increases marginally in bmimPF₆/supercritical CO₂. This limitation has been overcome by supporting this imidazolium palladium complex on high surface area Al/MCM-41 aluminosilicate, whereby a solid active catalyst for the Suzuki cross-coupling has been obtained. Reusability and stability over reuse for this Al/MCM-41-supported catalyst have been studied.