Highly active Pd(II) catalysts with trans-bidentate pyridine ligands for the Heck reaction.

[reaction: see text] The air-, water-, and heat-stable palladium(II) complexes 2a and 2b are prepared by the reaction of palladium(II) salts with the new trans-bidentate nitrogen ligands, 1,2-bis(2-pyridylethynyl)benzenes. The structure of complex 2a has been confirmed by X-ray structure analysis. The complexes efficiently catalyze the Heck olefination of aryl iodides and provide a good yield under phosphine-free conditions. The reaction is very sensitive to the nature of the chelating ligand.