New N-heterocyclic platinum and palladium carbene complexes useful as catalysts, particularly for partial oxygenation of alkanes to alkanols (e.g. for converting methane to methanol) while forming an alkyloxy ester

摘要

N-heterocyclic platinum and palladium carbene complexes (A) containing a bis-imidazole type ligand are new. N-heterocyclic platinum and palladium carbene complexes (A) of formula (I) are new. M : platinum or palladium; X : F, Cl, Br, I, weakly coordinated anion or non-coordinated anion; n : 1-4; R 1when n is 1or 2: substituted aromatic groups (D) of formulae (III) and (IV) or when n is 3 or 4: (D) or alkyl; Z 1-Z 5F, Cl, I, Br, NO 2, R a, O-R a, S-R a, COOR a, OC(O)-R aor N(R a) 2; Z 6-Z 8N, CZ 1or CZ 2(where at least one of Z 6-Z 8is N); and R aH, alkyl (optionally halogenated) or (D). Excluding compounds in which, when M is palladium and n is 1 and R 1is (III), and either Z 1-Z 5are H or Z 1, Z 3or Z 5are CH 3and Z 2and Z 4are H. Independent claims are also included for: (1) the preparation of (A); (2) a catalyst comprising (A); and (3) a method for partial oxidation of hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon-containing coating comprising the use of the catalysts. [Image] [Image].