Multinuclear Cu(II) Schiff Base Complex as Efficient Catalyst for the Chemical Coupling of CO2 and Epoxides: Synthesis, X-ray Structural Characterization and Catalytic Activity

Abstract  

The synthesis, X-ray structure, spectroscopic and catalytic properties of sterically hindered Schiff-base ligands (L₁H = N-[allylamine]-3,5-di-tert-butyl salicylaldimine, L₂H=N-[2-amino-5-methyl pyridine]-3,5-di-tert-butyl salicylaldimine and L₃H=N-[2-amino-6-methyl pyridine]-3,5-di-tert-butyl salicylaldimine), and their mononuclear Cu(II) complex for L₁H with multinuclear Cu(II) complexes for L₂H and L₃H, were described. The copper(II) complexes of these ligands were synthesized by treating an methanolic solution of the appropriate ligand with an appropriate amount of CuCl₂·2H₂O. The ligands and their copper(II) complexes were characterized by FT-IR, UV–Vis, ¹H-NMR, elemental analysis, measurement of room temperature magnetic moment, and X-ray structural determination. The reaction of the L₂H and L₃H ligands in a 1:1 mol ratio with CuCl₂·2H₂O afforded ionic copper metal(II) complexes in the presence of NEt₃. The Cu(II) metal complexes tested as catalysts for the formation of cyclic organic carbonates from carbon dioxide and liquid epoxides which served as both reactant and solvent. [Cu₃(L₂)₄]Cl₂·CuCl₂ complex which has 5-methyl substituent on the pyridine ring showed high catalytic activity for chemical coupling carbon dioxide with epoxides (propylene oxide (PO), epichlorohydrine (EC) and 1,2-epoxy butane (EB)) selectively.     

Cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes bearing mono(imino)pyridyl and bis(imino)pyridyl ligands: preparation,structure and ethylene polymerization/oligomerization behaviors

BACKGROUND: Ethylene oligomerization is the major industrial process to produce linear α‐olefins. Recently much work has been devoted to late transition metal catalysts used in this process, especially those with 2,6‐bis(imino)pyridyl dihalide ligands. Considering that most work has focused on simple modification to the substituents in imino‐aryl rings based on the symmetric bis(imino)pyridyl framework, here we expand this work to the asymmetric mono(imino)pyridyl ligands. RESULTS: The preparation, structure and ethylene polymerization/oligomerization behavior of series of mono(imino) pyridyl–MCl₂ and bis(imino)pyridyl–MX_n complexes are presented. The systematic studies were focused on the relationship between the catalytic behavior of these complexes for ethylene polymerization/oligomerization and reaction conditions, ligand structures, metal centers and counter‐anions. The influence of the coordination environment on catalyst behavior is also discussed. CONCLUSION: For mono(imino)pyridyl–Co(II) and ? Ni(II) catalysts bearing the Cl^? counter‐anion, good activities ranging from 0.513 × 10⁵ to 1.58 × 10⁵ g polyethylene (mol metal)^?1 h^?1 atm^?1 are afforded, and the most active catalysts are those with methyl in both ortho‐ and para‐positions of the imine N‐aryl ring. For bis(imino)pyridyl–Co(II) and ? Ni(II) catalysts bearing the SO₄^2? and NO₃^? counter‐anions, the low activities for ethylene oligomerization are in sharp contrast to those of their chloride analogues. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

A Dinucleating Ligand System with Varying Terminal Donors to Mimic Diiron Active Sites

To mimic dinuclear active sites of metalloproteins, we have developed a dinucleating ligand system consisting of two tetradentate tripodal ligand compartments with varying terminal donors (carboxylates, phenolates, and pyridines). These ligands provide access to a series of μ-oxo-bridged diferric complexes. The spectroscopic study allows to investigate the molecular structures even in solution, e. g. depending on protonation/deprotonation of coordinated OH⁻ and H₂O ligands or to observe a reversible pH-dependent carboxylate-shift between terminal and bridging binding mode. The electrochemical behavior is strongly influenced by the exogenous ligands, e. g. OH⁻ facilitates oxidation to Fe^IV by 690 mV relative to Cl⁻. Using the terminal carboxylates and a {Fe^III(μ-O)₂Fe^III} core even allows oxidation with O₂ to a high-valent species with Fe^IV (S=2). The implications of this study for further generation of high-valent or peroxo species and their utilization in catalysis is discussed.     

Catalyst Stability Determines the Catalytic Activity of Non‐Heme Iron Catalysts in the Oxidation of Alkanes

A series of iron(II) bis(triflate) complexes [Fe(L)(OTf)₂] containing linear tetradentate bis(pyridylmethyl)diamine ligands with a range of ligand backbones has been prepared. The backbone of the ligand series has been varied from a two‐carbon linkage [ethylene ( 1 ), 4,5‐dichlorophenylene ( 2 ) and cyclohexyl ( 3 )] to a three‐carbon [propyl ( 4 )) and a four‐carbon linkage (butyl ( 5 )]. The coordination geometries of these complexes have been investigated in the solid state by X‐ray crystallography and in solution by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. Due to the labile nature of high‐spin iron(II) complexes in solution, dynamic equilibria of complexes with different coordination geometries (cis‐α, cis‐β and trans) are observed with ligands 2 – 5 . In these cases, the geometry observed in the solid state does not necessarily represent the only or even the major geometry present in solution. The ligand field strength in the various complexes has been investigated by variable temperature magnetic moment measurements and UV‐vis spectroscopy. The strongest ligand field is observed with the most rigid ligands 1 and 2 , which generate complexes [Fe(L)(OTf)₂] with a cis‐α coordination geometry and the corresponding complexes [Fe(L)(CH₃CN)₂]²⁺ display spin crossover behaviour. The catalytic properties of the complexes for the oxidation of cyclohexane, using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant, have been investigated. An increased flexibility in the ligand results in a weaker ligand field, which increases the lability of the complexes. The activity and selectivity of the catalysts appear to be related to the strength of the ligand field and the stability of the catalyst in the oxidising environment.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Some Triphenyltin(IV) Complexes from Sterically Crowded [((E)-1-{2-Hydroxy-5-[(E)-2-(aryl)-1-diazenyl]phenyl}methylidene)amino]acetate Ligands and Crystal Structure Analysis of a Tetrameric Triphenyltin(IV) Compound

Four new triphenyltin(IV) complexes containing [((E)-1-{2-hydroxy-5-[(E)-2-(aryl)-1-diazenyl]phenyl}methylidene)amino]acetate ligands (L) have been synthesized with formulations of Ph₃SnLH. They have been studied by multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR, ¹¹⁹Sn M?ssbauer and IR spectroscopy. A full characterization of one complex, Ph₃SnL¹H (1), was accomplished by single crystal X-ray crystallography, which revealed the compound to be a macrocyclic tetramer. In the tetramer, the five coordinate tin atoms have distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometries with the three phenyl groups occupying equatorial positions, while an oxygen atom of the carboxylate group of one L ligand and the oxide O-atom (formerly the hydroxy group) of a second L ligand in an apical positions. The carboxylate ligands bridge adjacent tin atoms and coordinate in the zwitterionic form with the phenolic proton moved to the nearby nitrogen atom. ¹¹⁹Sn NMR results indicate that the tetrameric structures of the complexes in the solid state, in which the tin atoms are five-coordinated, dissociate in solution to yield four coordinate monomeric species.     

Ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of norbornene catalyzed by tantalum and niobium complexes with chelating O‐donor ligands

BACKGROUND: In comparison with group 6 transition metals, such as tungsten and molybdenum, and group 8 metal ruthenium, group 5 metal‐based catalysts for ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) have remained much less studied. The few reported ROMP catalysts of group 5 metals require multiple reaction steps to be synthesized, and are highly sensitive to air and moisture. RESULTS: A series of pentavalent tantalum and niobium complexes having catecholato, tropolonato, hinokitiolato, biphenolato and binaphtholato ligands were prepared and their catalytic activities for the ROMP of norbornene (NBE) were studied in the presence of trialkylaluminium as a co‐catalyst. Among these complexes, the tantalum complexes showed high activity upon activation with Buⁱ₃Al. In sharp contrast, the niobium complexes were effectively activated with Me₃Al. The polymers obtained with these complexes had high molecular weights (M_n > 10⁵ g mol⁻¹) and relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n ≈ 2). CONCLUSION: We found that easily accessible and relatively stable tantalum and niobium complexes with such chelating O‐donor ligands showed high catalytic activity for ROMP of NBE depending on the kind of co‐catalyst. These findings could contribute to future development of ROMP catalysts. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Homopolymerization of n‐butyl methacrylate using bis(salicylaldiminate)copper(II)/ methylaluminoxane catalysts

Polymerization catalysts based on copper precursors appear particularly interesting due to the low metal cost, limited toxicity and modest sensitivity to deactivation by polar species. To date, α‐olefin and polar monomer coordination polymerization catalysed using copper catalysts has been scarcely investigated, and a good part of the literature is represented by patents. Here this research has been expanded to the study of the performances of bis(salicylaldiminate)copper(II)/methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalysts in the polymerization of n‐butyl methacrylate. The study of the catalytic activity of bis(salicylaldiminate)copper(II)/MAO systems in n‐butyl methacrylate polymerization was focused on the relationship between the catalytic behaviour and the main reaction conditions and ligand structures. The electronic and steric characteristics of the chelate ligands play an important role in the catalytic performances. The presence of electron‐withdrawing nitro groups on the chelate ligands increased the catalytic activity which reached 36 kg_polymer mol^?1 h^?1, the highest value up to now reported for copper systems in methacrylic or acrylic monomer polymerization. These performances were ascribed to copper catalysts activated by MAO: without copper precursor, working in the presence of MAO and free salicylaldimine ligand, complete inactivity was ascertained. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Zirconium tetra-n-butylate modified with different organic acids: Hydrolysis and polymerization of the products

In this work, (a) complexation reaction of zirconium tetra-n-butylate, Zr(OBu ⁿ )₄, with MAc and different organic acids, (b) the hydrolysis reaction of modified Zr species, and (c) the polymerization reaction of complex products are studied. Zr(OBu ⁿ )₄ was reacted with different mole ratios of methacrylic acid (MAc) at room temperature and the maximum combination ratio was found to be 1:2 [Zr(OBu ⁿ )₄:MAc] by FT-IR. The modification of zirconium tetra-n-butylate with the acid mixtures [methacrylic acid-acetic acid (MeCOOH), methacrylic acid-propionic acid (EtCOOH), methacrylic acid-butyric acid (PrCOOH)] was made for a combination ratio of 1:1:1 [MAc:RCOOH:Zr(OBu ⁿ )₄; R: Me, Et, Pr] and the products were characterized by¹H-NMR, FT-IR, and UV spectroscopies. Following their synthesis, hydrolysis of the complexes with various amounts of water and polymerization with benzoyl peroxide were realized. The hydrolysis and polymerization products of the complexes were studied by Karl-Fischer coulometric titration and thermal analysis, respectively. Methyl ethyl ketone(MEK) and chloroform were chosen as solvents.     

Highly active and stereospecific polymerizations of 1,3-butadiene by using bis(benzimidazolyl)amine ligands derived Co(II) complexes in combination with ethylaluminum sesquichloride

A family of cobalt(II) complexes supported on tridentate dibenzimidazolyl ligands having a general formula: [N(CH₃)(CH₂)₂(Bm-R)₂]CoCl₂ (where Bm = benzimidazolyl, R = H; -Me; -Bz), have been prepared by the condensation of o-phenylene diamine with methyliminodiacetic acid. The Co(II) complexes exhibited high activities for the polymerization of 1,3-butadiene, on activation with ethylaluminum sesquichloride (EASC), to yield predominantly cis-1,4 microstructure. The polymers are characterized by high molecular weight with polydispersity values between 2.35 and 3.37. The ligand modification shows remarkable influence on polymerization activity. The stereospecificity of the catalysts is consistent for a wide range of reaction conditions, except temperature. The electronic influence of ligand structure towards metal center is investigated by using cyclic voltammetric analysis and the generation of cationic active centers is identified via UV-vis spectroscopic analysis of the catalyst system.     

The synthesis, characterization, thermal and optical properties of copper, nickel, and vanadyl complexes derived from azo dyes

Two, novel, tetradentate Schiff-base ligands, namely bis-5-phenylazosalicylaldehyde diethylenetriimine and bis-5-[(4-methoxyphenyl)azo]salicylaldehyde diethylenetriimine, as well as their Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and VO²⁺ complexes, were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, infrared and also UV–Visible spectroscopy, ¹HNMR and mass spectra. The thermal stability of the free ligands and the related metal complexes, as determined using differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis, were found to be thermally stable upto 240–275 °C depending on the type of ligand and the central metal atom. The λ_max of the ligands and their transition metal complexes in the region 300–800 nm are discussed. The novel metal complexes offer potential for application as recording media owing to both their absorption spectra in the blue-violet light region and high thermal stability.     

Development of environmentally responsive hydrogels with metal affinity behavior

This work describes initial efforts to incorporate affinity ligands within an environmentally responsive hydrogel. Metal affinity ligands were chosen as model affinity groups and thermally responsive N‐isopropyl acrylamide/acrylamide copolymers were used as the base hydrogels. The ? NH₂ group of the acrylamide serves as a reactive group for functionalization with metal affinity ligands. The gels were synthesized by free radical polymerization and Cu²⁺ was bound to the gel via 1,4‐butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDE) as a linker and iminodiacetic acid (IDA) as a chelating ligand. The base acrylamide gels were also functionalized with metal affinity ligands to allow for comparison with thermally responsive affinity gels. The results show the effectiveness of this technique for both these types of gels, and an improved method to immobilize metal affinity groups on to thermally sensitive N‐isopropyl acrylamide gels was also developed. It was seen that the yields for the reaction with BDE decreased with increased reaction time in both kinds of gels, whereas reaction with IDA showed a decrease in yields with increase in temperature for N‐isoporpyl acrylamide gels and increase in yields for acrylamide gels. Further techniques were developed to overcome diffusional resistances and stresses in the thermally responsive N‐isopropyl acrylamide gels so as to improve the distribution of Cu²⁺ ions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Zirconium complexes of amino(polyphenolic) ligands and their hydrolytic stability

Three amino(polyphenolic) ligands, N,N′-bis(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,2-diaminoethane 1, tris(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzyl)amine 3, its 3-chloro analogue 4 and their Zr^IV complexes have been synthesised. The crystal structure of the Zr^IV complex of tris(5-tert-butyl-3-chloro-2-hydroxybenzyl)amine, shows this to be [Zr(4-2H)₂] in which both ligands exists in a zwitterionic form with one alkylammonium and three phenolate groups. The complexes are stable in a two phase, chloroform/water, system at high pH, but the zirconium is stripped at pH < 2.5. The pH value needed to strip 50% of the Zr^IV from the complex [Zr(1-4H)] of the tetraphenolic ligand is ∼2.0 whilst the complexes [Zr(3-2H)₂] and [Zr(4-2H)₂] of the triphenolic ligands are slightly more stable with pH_1/2 values of ∼1.4. We were unable to use the ligands to extract zirconium from low pH aqueous zirconium oxychloride solutions into an organic phase under a variety of conditions.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Thermally Stable and Biologically Active Metal-Based Schiff Base Polymer

Schiff base was prepared via condensation of ethanedihydrazide with 2-hydroxy benzaldehyde and further this monomeric Schiff base polymerize with formaldehyde and barbituric acid and form polymeric Schiff base (PLSB) ligand. The ligand and its polymer metal complexes were characterized by using elemental analysis, IR, UV–VIS, ¹HNMR, magnetic susceptibility and thermogravimetric studies. On basis of elemental analysis and spectral studies, six coordinated geometry was assigned for Mn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes and four coordinated for Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes. PLSB act as a tetradentate and coordinate through the azomethine nitrogen and phenolic oxygen. The thermal behavior of these polymer metal complexes showed that the hydrated complexes losses water molecules of hydration in the first step followed immediately by decomposition of the anions and ligand molecules in the subsequent steps. The (PLSB) ligands and its polymer metal complexes were screened against bacterial species Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and fungal species Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, A. niger. The activity data show that the metal complexes were more potent than the parent Schiff bases.     

New N,O-containing ligands for the biomimetic copper-catalyzed polymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol

Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) (PPE), which is widely used in high-performance engineering plastics, is obtained by the copper-catalyzed oxidative coupling of 2,6-dimethylphenol. The oxidative polymerizations have been carried out in acetonitrile with structurally related [copper-(N,O-containing ligand)] complexes as the catalyst precursor compounds, which appeared to be of great interest for a better understanding of the factors influencing the catalytic activities. Steric effects (influence of a methyl group close to the metal center; ligands 4–7) or electronic effects (imino versus amino group; ligands 4, 5, 8 and 6, 7, 9, respectively) on the polymerization rates have been demonstrated. The use of mono- or dinucleating ligands has strengthened the proposed mechanism of the reaction involving dinuclear active species.     

Silica‐Supported Zirconium Complexes and their Polyoligosilsesquioxane Analogues in the Transesterification of Acrylates: Part 2. Activity,Recycling and Regeneration

The catalytic activity of both supported and soluble molecular zirconium complexes was studied in the transesterification reaction of ethyl acrylate by butanol. Two series of catalysts were employed: three well defined silica‐supported acetylacetonate and n‐butoxy zirconium(IV) complexes linked to the surface by one or three siloxane bonds, (SiO)Zr(acac)₃ ( 1 ) (SiO)₃Zr(acac) ( 2 ) and (SiO)₃Zr(O‐n‐Bu) ( 3 ), and their soluble polyoligosilsesquioxy analogues (c‐C₅H₉)₇Si₈O₁₂(CH₃)₂Zr(acac)₃ ( 1′ ), (c‐C₅H₉)₇Si₇O₁₂Zr(acac) ( 2′ ), and (c‐C₅H₉)₇Si₇O₁₂Zr(O‐n‐Bu) (3′ ). The reactivity of these complexes were compared to relevant molecular catalysts [zirconium tetraacetylacetonate, Zr(acac)₄ and zirconium tetra‐n‐butoxide, Zr(O‐n‐Bu)₄]. Strong activity relationships between the silica‐supported complexes and their polyoligosilsesquioxane analogues were established. Acetylacetonate complexes were found to be far superior to alkoxide complexes. The monopodal complexes 1 and 1′ were found to be the most active in their respective series. Studies on the recycling of the heterogeneous catalysts showed significant degradation of activity for the acetylacetonate complexes ( 1 and 2 ) but not for the less active tripodal alkoxide catalyst, 3 . Two factors are thought to contribute to the deactivation of catalyst: the lixivation of zirconium by cleavage of surface siloxide bonds and exchange reactions between acetylacetonate ligands and alcohols in the substrate/product solution. It was shown that the addition of acetylacetone to the low activity catalyst Zr(O‐n‐Bu)₄ produced a system that was as active as Zr(acac)₄. The applicability of ligand addition to heterogeneous systems was then studied. The addition of acetylacetone to the low activity solid catalyst 3 produced a highly active catalyst and the addition of a stoichiometric quantity of acetylacetone at each successive batch catalytic run greatly reduced catalyst deactivation for the highly active catalyst 1 .     

Reductive activation of dioxygen: A new concept for the catalytic oxidation

Transition metal–dioxygen complexes, which have been studied intensively in relevance to the active species of oxygenation with dioxygen molecule, are classified according to the extent of electron transfer from the metal center(s) to the O₂ ligand. A new O₂-activation method via a higher valent bis(μ-oxo) dimetal species resulting from extensive electron transfer is proposed on the basis of the results of our bioinorganic studies on the dioxygen complexes supported by the hydrotris(3,5-diisopropylpyrazolyl)borate ligand (Tp^iPr).     

Highly electrophilic metallocenes and their role in alkene polymerizations

This summary explores three main topics: (1) zwitterionic alternatives to cationic metallocene alkyl complexes as olefin polymerization catalysts, based on borato (–BR ₃ ^- ) and boryl (–BR₂) substituted cyclopentadienyl ligands (R = C₆F₅); including zwitterionic zirconium allyl complexes of the type CpZr(η³-allyl){η³-allyl–CH₂B(C₆F₅)₃}; (2) reactions which contribute to catalyst deactivation, notably aluminum alkyl mediated C₆F₅ transfer reactions as well as C–H activation reactions including an unusual case of catalyst self-reactivation; (3) the role of highly electrophilic metallocene complexes of aluminum, zirconium and yttrium in combination with weakly coordinating anions as initiators for the carbocationic polymerization of isobutene and isobutene–isoprene copolymerizations is discussed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cobalt(II), Zinc(II) and Cadmium(II)-Squarate Complexes with N-Methylimidazole

Three M(II)-squarate complexes, [Co(sq)(H₂O)(Nmim)₄] (1), [Zn(μ_1,3-sq)(H₂O)₂ (Nmim)₂] _n (2) and [Cd(μ_1,3-sq)(H₂O)₂(Nmim)₂] _n (3) (sq = squarate, Nmim = N-methylimidazole) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental, spectral (IR and UV–Vis.) and thermal analyses. The molecular structures of the complexes have been investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The squarate ligand acts as two different coordination modes as a monodentate (in 1) and bis(monodentate) (O ^1– O ³ ) bridging ligand (in 2, 3). The Co(II) atom has a distorted octahedral geometry with the basal plane comprised of three nitrogen atoms of Nmim ligands and a oxygen atom of squarate ligand. The axial position is occupied by a nitrogen atom of Nmim and one aqua ligand. The crystallographic analysis reveals that the crystal structures of 2 and 3 are one-dimensional linear chain polymers along the c and b axis, respectively. The configuration around each metal(II) ions are distorted octahedral geometry with two nitrogen atoms of trans-Nmim, two aqua ligands and two oxygen atoms of squarate-O¹,O³ ligand. These chains are held together by the C–H···π, π···π and hydrogen-bonding interactions, forming three-dimensional network.     

New coordination compounds of some rare-earth metal complexes with sulfur and nitrogen Schiff bases and their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal properties

A series of rare-earth metal complexes with Schiff bases have been prepared by the interactions of hydrated lanthanide(III) chloride with the sodium salts of 1-(2-thienyl)ethanone hydrazinecarbothioamide (L¹H) and 1-(2-thienyl)ethanonehydrazinecarboxamide (L²H) in 1:3 molar ratios and characterized by their elemental analyses, molar conductance and IR, NMR (¹H and ¹³C) electronic and EPR spectral studies. The spectral data suggested that the complexes have a hexa-coordinated environment around the central metal atoms. Elemental analyses and NMR spectral data of the ligands and their metal(III) complexes agree with their proposed structures. The synthesized Schiff bases and their new metal complexes have been screened for in vitro antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Pseudomonas cepacicola) bacterial strains and for in vitro antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum and Macrophomina phaseolina. All compounds showed significant antibacterial and antifungal activities against microbial species.     

New Pyridine ONN‐Pincer Gold and Palladium Complexes: Synthesis,Characterization and Catalysis in Hydrogenation,Hydrosilylation and C?C Cross‐Coupling Reactions

The ONN‐tridentate unsymmetrical pincer 2‐[6‐(pyrrolidin‐1‐ylmethyl)pyridin‐2‐yl]phenol and N‐tert‐butyl‐1‐{[6‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)pyridin‐2‐yl]methyl}pyrrolidine‐2‐carboxamide ligands were synthesized by an easy method in high purity and good yields. All the organic compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, IR and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Palladium(II) and gold(III) complexes have been prepared as air‐stable solids, with the ONN‐tridentate ligand after deprotonation of the hydroxy group, the coordination of the metal ion is completely stereospecific and gives rise to only one diastereoisomer. These complexes were shown to be very active catalysts in the hydrogenation (80 % ee was achieved with the chiral gold complex), hydrosilylation and C C coupling, Suzuki and Heck, reactions, under mild conditions.