Highly bulky and stable geometry-constrained iminopyridines: Synthesis, structure and application in Pd-catalyzed Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides.

A series of bulky geometry-constrained iminopyridylpalladium chlorides were developed. The steric environment adjacent to the nitrogen atom in the pyridine rings and diimine parts enhanced the thermal stability of the palladium species. Bulkier groups at the imino group stabilized the palladium species and the corresponding palladium chlorides showed high activities in the coupling reaction of aryl chlorides.