C,N-Palladacycle based on N,N-dimethyl-N-(diphenylmethyl)amine as an effective phosphine-free (pre)catalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling

Phosphine-free cyclopalladated binuclear complex based on N,N-dimethyl-N-(diphenylmethyl)amine shows high catalytic efficiency for the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of aryl halides with arylboronic acids under mild conditions. The catalytic process for the coupling is proved by dynamic light scattering analysis to proceed on Pd⁰ nanoparticles. Palladium nanoparticles protected by tetrabutylammonium bromide and polyvinylpyrrolidone exhibit lower activities for the coupling reactions than those generated in situ without additives.