Synthesis and Characterisation of a Novel Chiral Bidentate Pyridine‐N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Based Palladacycle

A novel chiral six‐membered bidentate pyridine‐N‐heterocyclic carbene palladacycle was prepared via optical resolution of the racemic palladacycle. This is the first successful demonstration of the synthesis of a chiral carbene palladacycle via fractional crystallization of its chiral amino acid derivatives. Upon formation of ( R C , S C ) and ( S C , S C )‐phenylalanate derivatives, the ( R C , S C )‐phenylalanate diastereomer crystallized out spontaneously. Optically active ( R )‐ and ( S )‐dichloropalladacycles can then be achieved by subsequent cleavage of the chiral amino acid auxiliary in the presence of aqueous HCl from their respective diastereomers. The absolute configurations of both the ( R )‐ and ( S )‐palladacycles were determined by X‐ray diffraction studies.