Mechanistic Studies on the Palladium-Catalyzed Direct C-5 Arylation of Imidazoles: The Fundamental Role of the Azole as a Ligand for Palladium

An in-depth mechanistic study on the palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of imidazoles at the C-5 position is presented. The interactions of triphenylphosphine (PPh3)-ligated aryl-Pd species with 1,2-dimethyl-1H-imidazole (dmim) have been studied in detail. In contrast with previous suggestions, phosphine-ligated organo-Pd species are not active and the reaction proceeds through imidazole-ligated organo-Pd intermediates. The kinetics of the oxidative addition of aryl halides with dmim-ligated Pd(0) species have been characterized in a Pd(dba)2/dmim model system. A thorough study of the equilibria involving novel [ArPd(dmim)2X] complexes (X=I, OAc) and the unexpected cationic [ArPd(dmim)3]+is also reported. The ability of these species to effect the C-H arylation of dmim at room temperature in the presence of acetate is also demonstrated.