N-heterocyclic carbene-palladium complexes for Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction with benzyl chloride and aromatic boronic acid leading to diarylmethanes

A family of N-heterocyclic carbene-palladium(II)-N,N-dimethylbenzylamine complexes ((NHC)LPdCl2; L=N,N-dimethylbenzylamine) were synthesized as well as characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic data. These complexes exhibited higher catalytic activities for the Suzuki reaction of benzyl chlorides to afford diarylmethanes under milder conditions than other efficient (NHC)LPdCl2 complexes. Using the optimum conditions, the expected coupling products were obtained in moderate to high yields. All reactions were carried out in air and all starting materials were used as supplied without purification.