NCN-pincer palladium complexes with multiple anchoring points for functional groups

para-Substituted NCN-pincer palladium(II) complexes (NCN = [2,6-(CH2NMe2)(2)C6H3](-)) of the type [Pd(OH2)(NCN-4-CHZ-C6H4SiMe3)](BF4) (with Z = OH, OAc, OSiMe(2)t-Bu, (C5H5N)(BF4)) have been synthesized and were used as catalysts in the aldol reaction between methyl isocyaroacetate and para-functionalized benzaldehydes. The applied substituents Z, placed on a distal position from the cationic palladium(H) site, do not significantly influence the catalytic activity and selectivity of the resulting complexes, but offer a useful starting point for further modification or functionalization. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.