Synthesis and catalytic activity of novel xylyl-linked benzimidazolium salts

The reaction of 1-alkylbenzimidazole derivatives with o-/p-di(chloromethyl) benzene results in the formation of the new o-/p-xylyl-linked bis(benzimidazolium) salts, 1 and 2, respectively. The salts were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The in situ prepared complexes derived from Pd(OAc)(2)-1 and 2 exhibit catalytic activity (61-98%), to give the Heck coupling products of aryl bromides and styrene. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.