Aminomethylpyridinequinones as new ligands for PEPPSI-type complexes

A set of six new catalysts possessing quinone moieties in a pyridine ligand was synthesized and fully characterized by standard analytical techniques, including X-Ray crystallography. The results obtained in Suzuki and Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reactions catalyzed by quinone-based compounds were comparable to these obtained in the presence of the original PEPPSI complex designed by Organ. DFT calculations allow to see the structural and electronic factors to describe their similarity. On the other hand, steric maps and NCI plots were the tools to have a more global view of the systems studied, leaving the sphere of reactivity around the metal.