(N-heterocyclic carbene)PdCl(N-heterocyclic carboxylate) complexes: Synthesis and catalytic activities towards arylation of benzoxazoles with aryl halides

A series of N-heterocyclic carboxylate-stabilized N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes have been synthesized and fully characterized. The solid-state structures indicate that each of the palladium centers is coordinated by an N-heterocyclic carbene, a chloride and a bidentate N,O-donor N-heterocyclic carboxylate ligand. The catalytic performance of the complexes was screened and the results revealed that the complexes exhibit moderate to high catalytic activities for the direct CH bond arylation of benzoxazoles with aryl bromides.