Experimental evidence for the direct involvement of Pd(0) and Pd(II) anionic phosphine complexes in the Mizoroki–Heck coupling reaction

Abstract

Abstract The role of ionic Pd species in the catalytic systems used for cross-coupling reactions has been revised in recent years, mainly utilizing in situ analytical techniques to detect catalyst species in the reaction mixture. The possible inclusion of phosphine molecules in the active Pd complexes is still debated. We have carried out a comparative study on the differential selectivity of the Mizoroki–Heck reaction with competition between two aryl halides or two alkenes to elucidate the active Pd species in different types of catalytic systems, including those favoring the formation of ionic complexes. The sensitivity of the reaction differential selectivity of two competing aryl halides to the additives of tertiary phosphine and halide salts points to the catalytic activity of anionic Pd(0) complexes containing at least one phosphine ligand when the phosphine-containing catalytic systems are used. The changes of the reaction differential selectivity of two competing alkenes to phosphine and halide salt allow to propose the entrance of both phosphine and halide ions into the coordination sphere of active Pd(II) complexes possessing anionic character. In addition, evidence for the effect of phosphine ligand and salt additives on the composition of the active Pd complexes that determine the regioselectivity of the reaction is presented. The data obtained indicate the decisive role of anionic Pd species in the Mizoroki–Heck reaction using both phosphine-free and phosphine-containing catalytic systems.