C–S bond formation catalyzed by N-heterocylic carbene palladium phosphine complexes

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are known to be useful ligands for palladium-complex catalysis. It was found that [(NHC)Pd(PPh3)Cl2] is an effective pre-catalyst in Pd-catalyzed C–S cross coupling reactions to produce the functionalized sulfides in excellent yields. The turn over frequency (TOF) for the coupling of p-CH3C6H4Br with p-CH3C6H4SH reaches to 6.25 (mol of product) (mole of catalyst)−1 h−1.