Fine-tuning of the catalytic activity and selectivity of palladium pincer complexes

Abstract: This thesis is focused on optimization of the catalytic properties of so-called pincer complexes. This work involved synthesis of a large variety of palladium pincer complexes, which were applied in various organic transformations. Optimization of the catalytic properties (also called fine-tuning) was directed to increase the catalytic activity as well as the chemo- and stereo-selectivity of the complexes. This could be achieved by varying the heteroatoms in the terdentate pincer ligand, by changing the electronic properties of the coordinated aryl moiety and by implementing chiral functionalities in the pincer complexes.In the cross-coupling reaction of vinyl epoxides and aziridines with organoboronic acids the chemoselectivity of the reaction could be increased by employment of pincer complexes instead of commonly used palladium(0) catalysts. Furthermore, application of a methoxy substituent in the aromatic subunit of the complex considerably increased the activity of the pincer complex catalyst.Fine-tuning of the stereoselectivity in electrophilic allylation reactions was achieved using a wide variety of BINOL and biphenanthrol based pincer complexes. The synthesis of these highly stable chiral palladium complexes was accomplished by using an efficient modular approach. The highest enantioselectivity (85% ee) was obtained by applying biphenanthrol based pincer complexes.We have presented the first palladium pincer complex catalyzed condensation of sulfonimines with isocyanoacetate. Variation of the heteroatoms in the terdentate ligand of the complex strongly influenced the stereoselectivity of the catalytic transformation. The highest stereoselectivity was obtained by using phosphine based pincer complexes. We have also succeeded to isolate and fully characterize the key intermediate of this reaction.