Cyclometallation of anthracen-9-ylmethylene-phenyl-amine by palladium(II) compounds

The cyclometallation of anthracen-9-ylmethylene-phenyl-amine with palladium(II) acetate and with the system PdCl2, NaCl and NaOAc·3H2O is studied. In both cases, the C1H bond activation of the anthracen-9-yl group takes place, affording an entry to a new type of endocyclic six-membered cyclopalladated organic imine that contains a metallated aromatic carbon atom.