New seven membered palladacycles: C-Br bond activation of 2-bromo-pyridine derivative by Pd(II)

C-Br bond activation followed by a C-C coupling reaction of the 2-bromo-pyridyl unit of [1-phenyl-2-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)-benzoimidazole] was performed by Pd(CH2CMe2-o-C6H 4)(η4-COD). Two new seven membered palladacycles were obtained. A combined experimental and theoretical DFT study elucidates the mechanism for this reaction. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.This research was supported by grants from the Universidad de Guanajuato (UG-2008) and SEP/CONACYT (México) (02-44420). J. O. C. J.-H. gratefully acknowledges the Carl Trygger Foundation for support through postdoctoral fellowship (CTS-09:144). J. N.-C. thanks the CONACYT for a doctoral fellowship (329449).Peer Reviewe