Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity of (1,2-Diaryl)alkenylphosphine palladium complexes

series of (1,2-diaryl)alkenylphosphine palladium complexes have been designed and synthesized. The structures of palladium complexes depend on the ratio of amount of using PdCl2(CH3CH)(2) and ligands. Additions of one equivalent of ligands afford dipalladium complexes [(RCH)-C-1=CR2(PR2)PdCl2](2), R-1 = R-2 = R = Ph, (C1); R-1 = R-2 = p-tolyl, R = Ph, (C2); R-1 = R-2 = Ph, R = Pr-i, (C3). The dipalladium complexes (C1-C3) adopt a transoid conformation and existed as chlorine-bridged dimer with a single alkenylphosphine ligand at each Pd. Complex Cl is confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Additions of two equivalents of ligands afford monopalladium complexes {[(RCH)-C-1=CR2(PR2)](2)PdCl2}, R-1 = R-2 = R = Ph, (C4); R-1 = R-2 = p-tolyl, R = Ph, (C5); R-1 = R-2 = Ph, R = Pr-i, (C6). The monopalladium complexes (C4-C6) adopt a transoid conformation with two alkenylphosphines. Complex C4 and C5 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography, respectively. For a crystal structure of complex C4, there are two independent palladium complexes in the asymmetric unit. All the complexes as a catalyst show good catalytic activity in Suzuki-Miyaura reaction. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.