Synthesis, structural characterization and catalytic activity of benzimidazole-functionalized Pd(II) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

Two Pd(II)-NHC complexes bearing benzimidazole and pyridine groups have been successfully prepared and fully characterized by NMR and X-ray diffraction analysis. The structure of palladium complexes are a typical square-planar with palladium surrounded by two pairs of trans-arranged benzimidazole and carbene ligands. The Pd-NHC complexes have been proved to be a highly efficient catalyst for the Mizoroki-Heck coupling reaction of aryl halides with various substituted acrylates under mild conditions in excellent yields. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.