Synthesis, structure and catalytic activity of thioether-phosphane complexes of Pd(II) and Pt(II)

New thioether - phosphanes 2-RSC6H4CH2PPh2 ( RS similar to PPh2: R = Me, Bu-t, Ph) and the corresponding complexes [PdCl2(MeS similar to PPh2)], [PdCl2((BuS)-Bu-t similar to PPh2)], [PdCl2(PhS similar to PPh2)], [PdClMe(MeS similar to PPh2)] and [PtMe2(MeS similar to PPh2)] have been prepared, characterized and the X-ray crystal structures of all complexes determined. Whilst Pd(II) complexes of RS similar to PPh2 show low activity for CO/ethene copolymerisation, the complexes [PdCl2( RS similar to PPh2)] have been found to be very efficient for the Heck arylation of n-butylacrylate with bromobenzene under aerobic conditions.