Binaphthyl-bridged bis-imidazolinium salts as N-heterocyclic carbene ligand precursors in the palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction

Two new bis-imidazolinium salts (4a, 4b) have been synthesized as precursors of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) from the commercially available (R)-2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthalene. The two bis-imidazolinium salts were used as efficient precursor of NHC ancillary ligands in the palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction. Good to excellent yields and high stereoselectivities were obtained with ethyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, and acrylamide as starting materials. The structure of bis-imidazolinium salt 4b was further characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.