Benzyloxycalix[8]arene: a new valuable support for NHC palladium complexes in C-C Suzuki-Miyaura couplings

Dalton Trans. 2018 Oct 9;47(39):13843-13848. doi: 10.1039/c8dt02550a.

Abstract

Benzyloxycalix[8]arene supported catalysts bearing N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes on each subunit were readily synthesized. Intermediates and catalysts were fully characterized, allowing for a fine control of their structure. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of a calix[8]arene bearing eight well-defined NHC palladium complexes. The macrocyclic structure of calix[8]arenes allowed for a scalable and chromatography-free catalyst synthesis under homogeneous conditions, while the catalytic reaction proceeded under heterogeneous conditions, just by changing the nature of the solvent. Indeed, when used as a suspension in ethanol, a high TON and TOF were obtained through a large panel of functionalized brominated substrates in C-C Suzuki-Miyaura couplings, with low metal contamination after simple filtration.