Catalysis with Pd Complexes that have Chelating N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

The Tilset research group has recently developed the first members of a new class of chelating ligands, iminocarbenes, that form well-defined homogeneous Pd complexes with hemilabile, 5- and 6-membered, chelate structures. The use of these Pd complexes in the catalytic transformation of organic molecules will be explored. In particular, reactions that involve C-C bond forming reactions will be explored, i.e. the so-called Heck, Stille, Suzuki, and Sonogashira couplings, as well as CO/ethene copolymerizati on. The results of the catalytic testing will be supplemented by mechanistic investigations. The combined insight gained will hopefully enable the design of even better catalysts.