Synthesis of xylylene-bridged dipalladium complexes with imidazole and triazole-based di-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands.

The di-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) dipalladium complexes, [(PdPyBr2)2(di-NHCimi)] and [(PdPyBr2)2(di-NHCtri)], di-NHCimi and di-NHCtrirepresent an imidazolylidene and a triazolylidene, respectively, featuring a 1,4-xylylene spacer between the carbene units, have been prepared. The influences of the imidazolylidene and triazolidene backbone and different substituents on the catalytic activity have been investigated in the Mizoroki-Heck reaction of styrene with bromobenzene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]