Simple building-block route to (Phosphanyl-carbene)palladium complexes via intermolecular addition of functionalised phosphanes to isocyanides

We present a straightforward protocol for making (phosphanyl- carbene)PdII complexes. These complexes have bidentate ligands containing an acyclic diamino- or aminooxycarbene and a phosphane. The synthesis gives good yields (typically 70–90%) for a variety of complexes (22 compounds). Moreover, it does not require the synthesis of imidazolium salts nor the a priori generation of free carbenes. Three of the new complexes were tested as catalysts for Sonogashira and Hay coupling reactions, with good yields and selectivities.