Unsymmetric-1,3-disubstituted imidazolium salt for palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides

A series of 1-(ferrocenylethyl)-3-substituted-imidazolium salts [3-substitute = 2,6-di(iso-propyl)phenyl (1a), 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (1b), tert-butyl (1c), 1-Ad (1d), cyclohexyl (1e)] have been synthesized from a racemic ferrocenylethyl acetate and the corresponding N-substituted imidazole in high yields (70–94%). A combination of Pd(OAc)2 and 1a–d was found to form an excellent catalyst system for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides with phenylboronic acid in the presence of Cs2CO3.

Graphical abstract1-(Ferrocenylethyl)-3-substituted-imidazolium salts have been synthesized and applied in the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide