Strategies for fine-tuning the catalytic activity of pincer-complexes

Various methoxy substituted pincer-complexes were prepared in order to study the substituent effects on the catalytic activity in palladium catalyzed opening of vinyl epoxides and boronation of cinnamyl alcohol. The results clearly show that methoxy substitution at the para-position of the pincer-complex leads to up to fourfold acceleration of the catalytic reactions, while substitution of the side-arms does not change the activity of the complex or leads to a slight deceleration of the catalytic processes.