A highly active two six-membered phosphinite palladium PCP pincer complex [PdCl{C 6H 3(CH 2OPPr i) 2-2,6}

Abstract

The diphosphinite 1,3-bis[(di-isopropylphosphinite)methyl]benzene ( 2) has been synthesized and its complexation in palladium chemistry investigated. Complex 3 represents the first example of a two six-member PCP pincer bis(phosphinite) species. A catalytic study of 3 in the Heck reaction, revealed this specie to have an outstanding activity in the olefination of iodo-, bromo- and chloro-benzenes. When compared with other PCP pincer complexes, the results show that both by increasing the ring size from five to six-membered and using phosphinite instead of phosphine groups lead to a more active catalyst.