Anti-Markovnikov hydroaminations of styrene catalyzed by palladium(II) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes under conventional and microwave heating

Six palladium(II) complexes with benzimidazole-based N-heterocyclic carbene ligands were synthesized by transmetallation reactions between silver(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes and PdCl2(PhCN)(2). The complexes were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The palladium complexes were tested as catalysts for intermolecular hydroamination reactions of styrene with various anilines in ionic liquids under both conventional and microwave heating. All of these complexes proved to be catalytically active in these reactions. The anti-Markovnikov addition products were selectively obtained by using 1 mol% of the palladium complex.