Hydrophilic Pd0 Complexes Based on Sugars for Efficient Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling in Aqueous Systems

Two classes of hydrophilic Pd-0 complexes containing P,N and N, N sugar-based ligands were prepared and tested in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction under environmentally friendly aqueous conditions. The best catalyst was tolerant towards different substrates, and its activity is comparable with the highest values reported so far for reactions in aqueous media [loading 0.0010%, turnover frequency (TOF) 3.5 x 104 h(-1)].