The unsymmetrical CNN pincer ligand precursors 4 and 7b based on the structures of bicyclo[3.2.l]octane and bicyclo[3.3.l]nonane have been synthesized. The corresponding palladium pincer 5,6-membered complexes 5 and 9 were prepared by direct cyclopalladation of ligand precursors with Li2PdCl4 in MeOH. The molecular structure of the palladacycles was determined by 1H and 13C NMR and confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The obtained complexes 5 and 9 exhibited good catalytic activity in the Suzuki reactions of aryl bromides with phenylboronic acid.
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