New monometallic Pd(II) (3, 4) and heteropolymetallic Pd(II)/Ru(II) complexes (5, 6) linked to an original 9,10-dihydroanthracenyl−pyrrolidine scaffold were synthesized and fully characterized. For monometallic complexes, exo-3 and endo-4 conformers were exclusively obtained from Pd(OAc) 2 and [PdCl 2 (COD)], respectively. The formation of the sterically hindered endo-4 was justified by the positive noncovalent intramolecular Cl−π interaction, observed by X-ray diffraction. The reaction of endo-4 with 1 and 2 equiv of [RuCp(NCMe) 3 ]PF 6 led to complexes 5 and 6, respectively. It is worth noting that lower conversions in the Suzuki−Miyaura coupling were found using 5 and 6 as catalysts, in comparison to those with monometallic palladium complexes. This behavior could be related to the higher stabilization of Pd(II) species for the heteropolymetallic complexes, as proven by electrochemical analyses.
■ INTRODUCTIONCatalysis represents the key approach to convert raw materials into valuable products. Mimicking nature seems to be the elegant way to conceive polyfunctional assemblies leading to "synergic" catalysts. Imitating biocatalysts, several research groups have developed polymetallic catalysts, finding cooperative effects between the different metal centers. 1 The design of versatile bimetallic catalysts containing robust ancillary frames seems to be an appropriate strategy for cooperative purposes. 2 The successful design of polymetallic catalysts, most of them bimetallic, where metals are linked to the same structure ligand, has been accomplished, proving their positive cooperative effect in a large number of organic transformations. 3 In this context, N-heterocyclic carbenes appear as suitable ligands. 4 In the last years, the Peris group has developed homo-and heterobimetallic complexes containing the straightforward 1,2,4-trimethyltriazolyldiylidene ligand acting as a Janus-type skeleton, able to coordinate two different metals. 5 Electrochemical studies proved weak electronic coupling between the two metal centers. 5e However, π interactions between the ligand and metals are hardly represented. 6−8 Among them, the most relevant bimetallic systems are those described by the Marks group, which are constituted by constrained binuclear complexes; 7 the metal is coordinated to an indenyl or cyclopentadienyl moiety by π coordination and a nitrogen atom by a dative bond. An interesting effect was also observed by the fragment "Mn-(CO) 3 " coordinated through a π interaction to a palladium phosphino oxazoline complex, increasing both the activity and selectivity of the Pd-catalyzed catalytic process in relation to the related Mn-free monometallic palladium complex. 6 A similar behavior was observed in Ru-catalyzed alkene metathesis reactions upon π coordination of "Cr(CO) 3 " to the monometallic complex. 8b In particular, we have been intrigued by structures containing both aromatic groups able to favor metal π coordination and flexible frameworks assisting metal−ligand dative interactions, with the aim to pr...