By Nicholas C. Bruno and Stephen L. Buchwald
The use of preformed palladium precatalysts containing phosphine ligands are an efficient means to generate the desired LnPd(0) species compared to traditional means of catalyst generation with separate Pd and ligand sources. We have developed three generations of palladacyclic precatalysts to address the issues of catalyst activation Our third generation methanesulfonate precatalysts are readily activated, incorporate the broadest range of ligands to date and have a facile preparation that is amenable to
large-scale synthesis. Additionally, by generating LPd(0) more efficiently than traditional palladium sources, our palladacyclic precatalysts have made possible methodologies that would not otherwise be feasible. We anticipate that the implementation of precatalysts will greatly improve the scope of palladium catalyzed cross coupling reactions
Our booklet cover was inspired by Professor Stephen Buchwald’s cat “Rufus” after whom RuPhos is named. Also shown are TrixiePhos and RockPhos, ligands that were named in honor of two more of his beloved cats,
Trixie (who passed away in 2013) and Rocket.
Reprinted from: The Strem Chemiker Vol. XXVII No. 1, January, 2014