Chapter 30 - Ligand-Introduction Synthesis of NCN-Pincer Complexes and their Chemical Properties

Abstract

In this chapter, we describe the synthesis by the ligand-introduction route of a wide range of palladium NCN-pincer complexes, including N-alkylimino and N-arylimino palladium NCN-pincer complexes, palladium NCN-pincer complexes bearing chiral pyrroloimidazolone groups, and [2,6-bis(2-oxazolinyl)phenyl] palladium complexes. We also describe some applications of these ligands. The prepared NCN-pincer complexes show good catalytic performances in asymmetric Michael reactions and Mizoroki-Heck reactions. A palladium NCN-imino pincer complex has also been used as a probe molecule to index the coordination ability of various monodentate ligands. Amphiphilic palladium N-arylimino pincer complexes are capable of self-assembly to form vesicular architectures that act as good catalysts for organic reactions in water. The ligand-introduction route deserves to be recognized as an alternative synthetic route for the synthesis of pincer complexes.