Heck reaction catalysed by pyridyl-imine palladium(0) and palladium(II) complexes

Pyridyl-imine Pd(0) and Pd(II) complexes catalyse the Heck coupling between PhI and methyl acrylate in DMF leading to trans-methyl cynnamate (TOF up to 1253 h−1); palladium is recovered as [Pd2I6][Et3NH]2.