Benzothiazolin‐2‐ylidene and Azole Mixed‐Ligand Complexes of Palladium

Abstract A series of mixed‐ligand, mononuclear complexes trans ‐[PdX 2 (NSHC)(azole)] [NSHC = N,S‐heterocyclic carbene; azole = imidazole, 1‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)‐1 H ‐imidazole, benzimidazole, benzothiazole and benzoxazole] have been prepared and characterised by X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction. These complexes catalyse the sp 2 –sp 3 cross‐coupling of fluoroaryl halides with arylboronic acid to give diarylmethanes with good yields and high turnovers. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)