LAUSR

The oxidative addition of N-methyl-2-iodoimidazole 1 or N-benzyl-2-iodoimidazole 2 to complexes [Pd(PPh3)4] or [Pt(PPh3)4] followed by the protonation of the unsubstituted imidazolato ring-nitrogen atom yielded complexes trans-[M(NH,NMe-NHC)(PPh3)2I] (M = Pd: trans-[3]PF6; M = Pt: trans-[4]PF6) and trans-[M(NH,NBz-NHC)(PPh3)2I] (M = Pd: trans-[5]PF6); M = Pt: trans-[6]PF6) bearing imidazole derived protic NH,NR-NHC (pNHC) ligands. In the absence of a proton source, the reaction of 1 with [Pd(PPh3)4] yielded the dinuclear dipalladium complex [7] featuring bridging N,NMe-NHC imidazolato ligands metalated at the C2 ring-carbon atom and the N3 ring-nitrogen atom. Palladium complex trans-[3]PF6 undergoes halogen abstraction with AgPF6 to give acetonitrile complex trans-[Pd(NCCH3)(NH,NMe-NHC)(PPh3)2] trans-[8](PF6)2. This complex reacted further with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), affording complex [Pd(NH,NMe-NHC)(PPh3)(phen)](PF6)2 [9](PF6)2.