Novel motif for bidentate P,N ligands. Application to Pd-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reactions

A library of novel C2-symmetric P,N ligands based on a Tröger’s base backbone was prepared via a concise two-step synthesis starting from a commercially available aniline derivative. X-ray crystallography and 31P NMR studies confirm that a single ligand molecule can accommodate two palladium atoms via coordination to nitrogen and phosphorus. Preliminary results proved the synthetic potential of this species in Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides with arylboronic acids.