Ionically tagged benzimidazole palladium(II) complex: preparation and catalytic application in cross-coupling reactions

An imidazolium chloride tagged palladium(II) complex has been conveniently prepared and structurally analyzed. It is active toward cross-coupling of arylboronic acid with aryl halide and benzoyl chloride, giving moderate to high yield of the desired biaryls and aryl ketones, respectively. The present phosphine-free (N-N)Pd(II) complex could be efficiently recycled at least four times with minor decrease of activity in the aqueous Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.