Simple (imidazol-2-ylidene)-Pd-acetate complexes as effective precatalysts for sterically hindered Suzuki-Miyaura couplings.

[reaction: see text] A simplified synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)Pd-carboxylate complexes and their activity in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions are described. Coupling of sterically hindered aryl and activated alkyl chlorides bearing beta-hydrogens has been successfully achieved.