Cross coupling reactions catalyzed by (NHC)Pd(II) complexes

This review is focused on new developments reported during the last 3 years concerning the catalytic performances of in situ formed or preformed NHC Pd(II) complexes (NHC: N-heterocyclic carbene) for cross-coupling reactions such as Heck Mizoraki (often shortened to the Heck reaction), Kumada, Negishi, Suzuki Miyaura (often shortened to the Suzuki reaction), Sonogashira and Hiyama couplings, and the Buchwald-Hartwig aminations, which are extremely powerful in the formation of C-C and C-heteroatom bonds. Due to the great number of publications and limited space here, we made a special attempt to compile the relevant data in tables, which we hope will serve as a guide for chemists interested in these reactions. The syntheses of the precatalysts and the generally accepted reaction mechanisms are also briefly described.