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The Pd-NHC-catalyzed acyl-type Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling of amides by N-C(O) cleavage (transamidation) provides a valuable alternative to the classical methods for amide synthesis. Herein, we report a combined experimental and computational study of the Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling of amides using well-defined, air- and moisture-stable [Pd(NHC)(allyl)Cl] precatalysts. Most crucially, we present a comprehensive evaluation of a series of distinct Pd(ii)-NHC precatalysts featuring different NHC scaffolds and throw-away ligands for the synthesis of functionalized amides that are not compatible with stoichiometric transition-metal-free transamidation methods. Furthermore, we present evaluation of the catalytic cycle by DFT methods for a series of different Pd(ii)-NHC precatalysts. The viability of accessing NHC-supported acyl-palladium(ii) amido complexes will have implications for the design and development of cross-coupling methods involving stable amide electrophiles.

The development of robust, more efficient, general, easily accessible Pd(II)-NHC pre-catalysts remains a key issue in cross-coupling applications. A selection of well-defined, air and moisture stable [Pd(NHC)Cl(1-Bu-t-indenyl)] (NHC=IPr, IPrCl, IMes, SIMes, IPr*) pre-catalysts have been synthesized in good to excellent yields by reacting [Pd(1-Bu-t-indenyl)(mu-Cl)](2) and various NHC.HCl precursors in the presence of the weak base K2CO3 in green acetone. The synthesized Pd(II)-NHC derivatives displayed excellent catalytic activity in classical Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions, especially when IPrCl is employed as ancillary ligand. Additionally, in the challenging Suzuki-Miyaura reaction between esters and arylboronic acids, the [Pd(IPr*)Cl(1-Bu-t-indenyl)] complex exhibited the optimum catalytic activity under very mild reaction conditions.

A series of imidazolium-based palladate precatalysts has been synthesized and the catalytic activity of these air- and moisture-stable complexes evaluated as a function of the nature of the imidazolium counterion. These precatalysts can be converted under catalytic conditions to Pd-NHC species capable of enabling the Buchwald-Hartwig aryl amination and the alpha-arylation of ketones. Both reactions can be carried out efficiently under very mild operating conditions. The effectiveness of the protocol was tested on functionality-laden substrates.

We report on the facile conversion of [Pd-2(mu-Cl)(mu-eta(3)-R-allyl)(NHC)(2)] complexes, which are commonly considered undesirable off-cycle species in cross-coupling reactions, into active [PdCl(mu-Cl)(NHC)](2) pre-catalysts. All reactions proceed under mild conditions (40 degrees C, 1-2 hours in acetone) using inexpensive HCl as both an oxidant and chloride source. DFT calculations were performed to explore the possible mechanism of this transformation, which appears to involve a combination of two different pathways. Moreover this study provides insights into factors favoring and hindering Pd(i) dimer formation undesirable in catalysis.

Summary The development of more reactive, general, easily accessible, and readily available Pd(II)–NHC precatalysts remains a key challenge in homogeneous catalysis. In this study, we establish air-stable NHC–Pd(II) chloro-dimers, [Pd(NHC)(μ-Cl)Cl]2, as the most reactive Pd(II)–NHC catalysts developed to date. Most crucially, compared with [Pd(NHC)(allyl)Cl] complexes, replacement of the allyl throw-away ligand with chloride allows for a more facile activation step, while effectively preventing the formation of off-cycle [Pd2(μ-allyl)(μ-Cl)(NHC)2] products. The utility is demonstrated via broad compatibility with amide cross-coupling, Suzuki cross-coupling, and the direct, late-stage functionalization of pharmaceuticals. Computational studies provide key insight into the NHC–Pd(II) chloro-dimer activation pathway. A facile synthesis of NHC–Pd(II) chloro-dimers in one-pot from NHC salts is reported. Considering the tremendous utility of Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and the overwhelming success of [Pd(NHC)(allyl)Cl] precatalysts, we believe that NHC–Pd(II) chloro-dimers, [Pd(NHC)(μ-Cl)Cl]2, should be considered as go-to precatalysts of choice in cross-coupling processes., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • Highly reactive, air-stable PdII–NHC chloro-dimer catalysts for cross-coupling reactions • Broad substrate scope, excellent functional group tolerance, and chemoselectivity • Rapid one-step catalyst synthesis and facile catalyst activation • DFT studies provide key insights into PdII–NHC chloro-dimer activation pathway, Chemistry; Inorganic Chemistry; Catalysis; Organic Synthesis

The bigger the better: The new well-defined [Pd(IPr*)(cin)Cl] pre-catalyst is described. This complex proves to be highly active in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling for the synthesis of tetra-ortho-substituted biaryls under mild conditions. IPr* is reported as the largest N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) to date for [Pd(NHC)(cin)Cl] complexes, explaining the high reactivity observed for this complex in this challenging transformation.