Synthesis and characterization of mono- and dinuclear aryl palladium(II) complexes: oxidative additions of 1,4-dihalogenated benzene or 4,4′-dibromobiphenyl to Pd(PR₃)₄

Abstract

Mononuclear palladium(II) complexes 1–12, (C₆H₄X-4)PdXʹ(PR₃)₂ (X = I, Br, or Cl; Xʹ = I or Br; R = Ph, Cy, Et, or Me), were synthesized by oxidative addition of 1,4-dihalogenated benzene to Pd(PR₃)₄; dinuclear palladium(II) complexes 13–15, (Me₃P)₂XPd(C₆H₄-1,4)PdXʹ(PMe₃)₂ (X, Xʹ = I or Br), could be obtained only using trimethylphosphine. Another method to prepare 13–15 is via re-oxidative addition of the corresponding mononuclear palladium(II) complexes and Pd(PMe₃)₄. Using 4,4′-dibromobiphenyl as the starting material, the mononuclear palladium(II) complexes [C₆H₄(C₆H₄Br-4)-4]PdBr(PPh₃)₂ (16) and [C₆H₄(C₆H₄Br-4)-4]PdBr(PCy₃)₂ (17) with bulky phosphines could be synthesized at relative low temperature, while dinuclear 18, (Cy₃P)₂BrPd(C₆H₄C₆H₄-4,4ʹ)PdBr(PCy₃)₂, was prepared by bis-oxidative addition at higher temperature. The re-oxidative addition of 16 and Pd(PMe₃)₄ gave dinuclear 19, (Me₃P)₂BrPd(C₆H₄C₆H₄-4,4ʹ)PdBr(PMe₃)₂, accompanying phosphine exchange. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that formation of dinuclear palladium(II) complexes depends on the reaction temperature, phosphine ligands, and bridging groups.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Aryl palladium(II) complex
• Synthesis
• Phosphine
• Oxidative addition
• Crystal structure

Funding

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 21174141 and 51073152].