Palladium complexes of chalcogenoethanamine (S/Se) bidentate ligands: Applications in catalytic arylation of C H and O H bonds

This report describes the syntheses of N,E (E = S, Se) coordinated bidentate palladium complexes, by the reaction of N-(2-bromobenzyl)-2-(phenylthio/selanyl)ethanamine (3, 4) with [PdCl2(CH3CN)2]. The new ligands and palladium complexes were characterized by techniques like 1H, 13C{1H} NMR, IR, and elemental analysis. The coordination modes of ligand with palladium precursor in complexes 5 and 6 were authenticated by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The complexes possess distorted square planar geometry around palladium center. Thermally robust and air stable complexes 5 and 6 were used as catalyst for regioselective arylation of imidazole and O-arylation of phenol. In case of regioselective arylation of imidazole, the reaction proceeds smoothly under mild reaction conditions, only 2.0 mol% of catalyst loading is required to achieve high yield (76–92%). This protocol is applicable to a broad substrate scope showing excellent tolerance towards different functional groups. Whereas for O-arylation of phenol also only 2.0 mol% catalyst loading is sufficient to give good yield (71–92%) with excellent tolerance towards a broad range of functional groups. Among sulfur and selenium coordinated ligands, selenium ligand coordinated complex, was found to outperform the catalytic reactions in both cases as compare to sulfur ligand. The mercury and triphenylphosphine poisoning tests suggest homogeneous nature of catalysis.