Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling of amides (transamidation) by selective N-C(O) cleavage mediated by air- and moisture-stable [Pd(NHC)(allyl)Cl] precatalysts: catalyst evaluation and mechanism

The Pd-NHC-catalyzed acyl-type Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling of amides by N-C(O) cleavage (transamidation) provides a valuable alternative to the classical methods for amide synthesis. Herein, we report a combined experimental and computational study of the Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling of amides using well-defined, air- and moisture-stable [Pd(NHC)(allyl)Cl] precatalysts. Most crucially, we present a comprehensive evaluation of a series of distinct Pd(ii)-NHC precatalysts featuring different NHC scaffolds and throw-away ligands for the synthesis of functionalized amides that are not compatible with stoichiometric transition-metal-free transamidation methods. Furthermore, we present evaluation of the catalytic cycle by DFT methods for a series of different Pd(ii)-NHC precatalysts. The viability of accessing NHC-supported acyl-palladium(ii) amido complexes will have implications for the design and development of cross-coupling methods involving stable amide electrophiles.