NHC-Pd(II)-Im (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene; Im=1-methylimidazole) complexes as efficient catalysts for Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions of aryl chlorides

A new type of well-defined N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-palladium chloride-imidazole complexes derived from (IPrHCl)-H-center dot or IMes(center dot)HCl, PdCl2 and 1-methylimidazole exhibits high catalytic activity in the room-temperature Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions of aryl or heteroaryl chlorides. Moreover, the large-scale (20.0 mmol) couplings in the presence of 0.01 mol% catalyst loading can also give the corresponding coupling products in high yields. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.