Chiral 2,6-lutidinyl-biscarbene complexes of palladium

Chiral complexes of palladium, 1, with the new tridentate `pincer' ligand 2 ,6-lutidinyl-biscarbene (C<^>N<^>C), have been prepared; in the solid state they exhibit helical C-2 symmetrical structures which are persistent in so lution at least up to 80 degreesC; the chiral nature of 1 has been establis hed by NMR methods using Pirkle's acid as a chiral discriminating agent; ra cemic mixtures of 1 are highly active catalysts in Heck coupling reactions.