1,3,2,4-Diazadiphosphetidines as new P-N ligands for palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction in water

1,3,2,4-Diazadiphosphetidine-based phosphazane class have been used as a new generation of heterogeneous bidentate P(III) ligands containing nitrogen for base-free Pd(II) catalyzed C-C bond formation through Heck coupling reaction of aryl iodides, bromides and chlorides in water with styrene, n-butyl acrylate, 1-octene, and cyclohexene. The reactions occur heterogeneously in water and homogenously or partially heterogeneously in appropriate organic solvents. The ligand together with its Pd(O) complex is easily separated by filtration and reused for several runs. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.