Onani Martin OMoletsane Anna Manana2025-06-302025-06-302024N/Ahttps://hdl.handle.net/10566/20554In this work, we describe the synthesis of ferrocenylimine and G 1 dendrimeric N,N' ligands, and their palladium(ll) complexes. The ligands Lt - L4 were synthesized following Schiff base condensation reactions. The ferrocenylimine ligands Lt and L2 were prepared from ferrocenecarboxaldehyde and 1,3-diaminopropane or DAB-4-(NH2) 4, while the G 1 dendrimeric N,N' ligands L3 and L4 were prepared from DAB-4-amine and 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde or 2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde. The air and moisture stable ligands were obtained in fairly good yields of over 65 %. All the ligands were observed to be soluble in common organic solvents. They were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, 13C-NMR spectroscopy, micro-analysis and ESI- mass spectrometry. A reaction of the ligands with PdCii(COD) or PdC'2(MeCN)2 gave palladium(II) complexes Cl - C4 in good yields of over 70%. The complexes were observed to be stable. However,the complexes did not dissolve in common organic solvents. These were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. All the complexes were screened for activity towards Heck coupling model reaction of iodobenzene with styrene. The complexes catalyzed the coupling of styrene with iodobenzene, giving over 60 % conversions. However, complex C3 was found to be the most active catalyst, yielding 75% conversion without formation of palladium black.enAttenuated total reflectanceBroadDeuterated chloroform15-Cyclo-octadieneCyclopentadienylDiaminobutadieneThesis