Conversion of iminoacyl quinolinylpalladium (II) complexes into novel oxo‐pyrrolo[3,4‐b] quinolines via depalladation reactions

Oxidative addition reactions of quinolines 1a , b with Pd(dba)₂ in the presence of PPh₃ (1:2) in acetone gave dinuclear palladium complexes Pd(C,N‐2‐C₉ H₄N‐CHO‐3‐R‐6)Cl(PPh₃)]₂ (R = H ( 2a ), R = OMe ( 2b ), which were reacted with isocyanide XyNC (Xy = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃) to give novel iminoacyl quinolinylpalladium complexes 3a , b in good yields (81 and 77%). Cyclopalladated complexes 3a , b were also obtained in low yields (39 and 33.5%) via one‐pot reaction of 1a , b with isonitrile XyNC:Pd(dba)₂ (4:1). The reaction of 3a , b with Tl(TfO) (TfO = triflate, CF₃SO₃) in the presence of H₂O or EtOH causes depalladation reactions of complexes to provide the corresponding organic compounds 4a , b , 5a , b and 6a , b in yields of 41, 27 and 18 ? 19%, respectively. The products were characterized by satisfactory elemental analyses and spectral studies (IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR). The crystal structures 2a , 3a and 3b were determined by X‐ray diffraction studies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.