Chiral 2,6-lutidinyl-biscarbene complexes of palladiumElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: spectroscopic data for 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b; Table S1: representative results of the Heck reaction. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b1/b103330c/

Abstract

Chiral complexes of palladium, 1, with the new tridentate ‘pincer’ ligand 2,6-lutidinyl-biscarbene (C⁁N⁁C), have been prepared; in the solid state they exhibit helical C₂ symmetrical structures which are persistent in solution at least up to 80 °C; the chiral nature of 1 has been established by NMR methods using Pirkle’s acid as a chiral discriminating agent; racemic mixtures of 1 are highly active catalysts in Heck coupling reactions.