N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Palladium(II)-4,5-Dihydrooxazole Complexes: Synthesis and Catalytic Activity toward Amination of Aryl Chlorides

A series of novel N-heterocyclic carbene-palladium(II)-4,5-dihydrooxazole (NHC-Pd-II-Ox) complexes 3 were successfully synthesized from commercially available imidazolium salts 1, PdCl2, and 4,5-dihydrooxazoles 2 in a one-step process, and these complexes showed efficient catalytic activity toward the amination of aryl chlorides. Both secondary and primary amines were tolerated under the same reaction conditions. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the expected coupling products were obtained in moderate to high yields.