Pyrazolyl-functionalized 2-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids and their palladium(II) complexes as recyclable catalysts.

A series of pyrazolyl- and 3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl-functionalized 2-methylimidazolium-based salts have been prepared through neat reactions of 1-pyrazolylmethylene-2-methylimidazole and 1-(3,5-dimethylpyrazolylmethylene)-2-methylimidazole with alkyl or polyfluoroalkyl iodides or 1-bromohexane, followed by anion exchange with LiN(SO2CF3)2 or KPF6. Their thermal properties were determined by DSC and TGA. Most of the bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide salts are room temperature ionic liquids. The influence of anions and of the structural variation in the 2-methylimidazolium-based cations on the physicochemical properties is discussed. These salts reacted easily with palladium(II) chloride to generate mononuclear palladium ionic liquid complexes. The catalytic activity and recyclability of the palladium complexes in the corresponding ionic liquids were preliminarily examined using Heck, Suzuki and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions in the absence of phosphine ligands.