Abstract

In recent years the development of transition metal complexes having in its structure pincer type ligands has received considerable attention. Nowadays these complexes are designed and synthesized not just for the mere structural interest but for the great number of potential applications these compounds may have. Thus, the present paper presents and discusses recent advances (covering until early 2008) on the chemistry of aromatic based PCP and PNP pincer transition metal complexes, highlighting recent advances on their preparation and use as homogeneous catalysts in cross-coupling reactions and other industrially relevant organic transformations.

Keywords: Catalytic hydrogenation, C-H activation, cross-coupling reactions, homogeneous catalysis, PCP pincer complexes, PNP pincer complexes, POCOP pincer complexes, platinum group metal complexes, phosphinites, phosphoramidites