Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of a Cationic Pd(II) N-heterocyclic Carbene Complex

The cationic palladium(II) complex, [1,3-bis(N-methylpyridinium-2-ylmethyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene] palladium(II) triiodide was synthesized from the imidazolium salt 1,3-bis(N-methylpyridinium-2-ylmethyl)imidazolium triiodide. Catalytic application of the Pd-NHC complex was tested via the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl halides with phenylboronic acid in aqueous solutions. Catalytic results suggest the complex catalyzes boronic acid homocoupling while palladium nanoparticles are likely responsible for the observed cross-coupling.64