Palladium‐Catalyzed Selective Reduction of Carbonyl Compounds.

Two new examples of structurally characterized β‐diketiminate analogues i.e., conjugated bis‐guanidinate (CBG) supported palladium(II) complexes, [LPdX]2; [L= {(ArHN)(ArN)–C=N–C=(NAr)(NHAr)}; Ar = 2,6‐Et2‐C6H3], X = Cl (1), Br (2) have been reported. The synthesis of complexes 1–2 was achieved by two methods. Method A involves deprotonation of LH by nBuLi followed by the treatment of LLi (insitu formed) with PdCl2 in THF, which afforded compound 1 in good yield (75 %). In Method B, the reaction between free LH and PdX2 (X = Cl or Br) in THF allowed the formation of complexes 1 (Yield 73 %) and 2 (Yield 52 %), respectively. Moreover, these complexes were characterized thoroughly by several spectroscopic techniques (1H, 13C NMR, UV/Vis, FT‐IR, and HRMS), including single‐crystal X‐ray structural and elemental analyses. In addition, we tested the catalytic activity of these complexes 1–2 for the hydroboration of carbonyl compounds with pinacolborane (HBpin). We observed that compound 1 exhibits superior catalytic activity when compared to 2. Compound 1 efficiently catalyzes various aldehydes and ketones under solvent‐free conditions. Furthermore, both inter‐ and intramolecular chemoselectivity hydroboration of aldehydes over other functionalities have been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]