New 1,3-dialkylperhydrobenzimidazolinium and 1,3-dialkylimidazolinium salts (2,4) as NHC precursors have been synthesized and characterized. These salts in combination with [RhCl(COD)](2) provided active catalysts for the addition of phenylboronic acid to aldehydes under mild conditions. The in situ prepared three-component system [RhCl(COD)](2)/imidazolinium salts (2,4) and KOBu' catalyse the addition of phenylboronic acid to sterically hindered aldehydes affording the corresponding arylated secondary alcohols in good yields. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
C1 Inonu Univ, Fac Sci & Arts, Dept Chem, TR-44280 Malatya, Turkey.
Ege Univ, Dept Chem, TR-35100 Bornova, Turkey.