Abstract
DFT calculations were performed to elucidate the oxidative addition mechanism of the dimeric palladium(II) abnormal N-heterocyclic carbene complex 2 in the presence of phenyl chloride and NaOMe base under the framework of a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. Pre-catalyst 2 undergoes facile, NaOMe-assisted dissociation, which led to monomeric palladium(II) species 5, 6, and 7, each of them independently capable of initiating oxidative addition reactions with PhCl. Thereafter, three different mechanistic routes, path a, path b, and path c, which originate from the catalytic species 5, 7, and 6, were calculated at M06-L-D3(SMD)/LANL2TZ(f)(Pd)/6-311++G**//M06-L/LANL2DZ(Pd)/6-31+G* level of theory. All studied routes suggested the rather uncommon PdII /PdIV oxidative addition mechanism to be favourable under the ambient reaction conditions. Although the Pd0 /PdII routes are generally facile, the final reductive elimination step from the catalytic complexes were energetically formidable. The PdII /PdIV activation barriers were calculated to be 11.3, 9.0, 26.7 kcal mol-1 (ΔΔ≠ GLS-D3 ) more favourable than the PdII /Pd0 reductive elimination routes for path a, path b, and path c, respectively. Out of all the studied pathways, path a was the most feasible as it comprised of a PdII /PdIV activation barrier of 24.5 kcal mol-1 (ΔGLS-D3 ). To further elucidate the origin of transition-state barriers, EDA calculations were performed for some key saddle points populating the energy profiles.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.