Ru(ii)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: synthesis, characterization, transfer hydrogenation reactions and biological determination.

A series of ruthenium(ii) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands were successfully synthesized by transmetalation reactions between silver(i) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes and [RuCl(-cymene)] in dichloromethane under Ar conditions. All new compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. These ruthenium(ii)-NHC complexes were found to be efficient precatalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones by using 2-propanol as the hydrogen source in the presence of KOH as a co-catalyst.

A Palladium Catalyst System for the Efficient Cross-Coupling Reaction of Aryl Bromides and Chlorides with Phenylboronic Acid: Synthesis and Biological Activity Evaluation.

New benzimidazolium salts 1a-c and their palladium bis-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes 2a-c and palladium PEPPSI-type complexes 3a-c were designed, synthesized and structurally characterized by NMR (1H and 13C), IR, DART-TOF mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. Then these complexes 2-3 were employed in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of substituted arenes with phenylboronic acid under mild conditions in toluene and DMF/H2O (1/1) to afford functionalized biaryl derivatives in good to excellent yields. The antibacterial activity of palladium bis-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes 2a-c and palladium PEPPSI-type complexes 3a-c was measured by disc diffusion method against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.