Palladium is favored in cross coupling reactions due to its unique ability to form stable complexes with organic ligands and its versatile oxidation states. Palladium(0) and palladium(II) can interconvert easily, facilitating various steps in the catalytic cycle. Furthermore, palladium complexes are capable of activating C-H, C-C, and C-X bonds (where X can be a halide or pseudohalide), making them extremely efficient in coupling reactions.
