An overview: dinuclear palladium complexes for organic synthesis

Abstract

From materials science and polymer chemistry to organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry, cross-coupling has influenced many scientific fields. Cross-coupling reactions with palladium have revolutionized the synthesis of compounds. These reactions have been studied and optimized to an extent that permits their application on an industrial scale. The remarkable activity and selectivity of palladium catalysts, and enzymes inspired synergistic and cooperative effects of multinuclear active sites, have urged scientists to develop and employ dinuclear palladium catalysts in various cross-coupling reactions. When two metal centers are forced to be near each other, cooperativity results, allowing the metals to stabilize one another electrically and produce a catalytically active form that is not conceivable with monometallic complexes. In comparison to equivalent catalysts with isolated metal centers, dinuclear catalysts catalyze processes either more effectively or with distinctive chemo-, regio-, or stereoselectivity. Cooperative activation can be improved by affixing covalent or non-covalent linkages to two catalytic units. Despite these developments, it is still unclear how many Pd sites function during catalysis. This study carefully examines the use of dinuclear Pd catalysts in cross-coupling processes that generate C–C and C–X bonds.