Mixed er-NHC/phosphine Pd(ii) complexes and their catalytic activity in the Buchwald-Hartwig reaction under solvent-free conditions.

A series of novel (NHC)PdCl2-PR3 complexes were synthesized and fully characterized by 1H, 13C, 31P NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. These complexes showed high catalytic activity toward solvent-free Buchwald-Hartwig amination. Both primary and secondary amines were efficiently utilized under the same reaction conditions. The solvent-free synthesis of valuable N-aryl carbazoles and similar N-heterocyclic systems was described.