Electropolymerization of Pd(II) complexes containing phosphinoterthiophene ligands

A series of Pd complexes of 3'-diphenylphosphino-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (1a, dppterth) in which the metal is coordinated in three different modes have been prepared and electropolymerized, resulting in the formation of conductive thin films. In [Pd2(mu-Cl2)(dppterth-P,C3)2] (3a) the metal is P,C-coordinated, in [PdCl2(dppterth-P)2] (4a) the coordination is monodentate via the phosphine, and in [Pd(dppterth-P,C3)(dppterth-P,S1)][PF6] (5a) both P,C- and P,S-coordination modes are found. In 5a, the coordinated thiophene is hemilabile and may be displaced by reaction with more strongly coordinating ligands such as isocyanides. To probe the effect of blocking the alpha-position of the terthienyl moiety with methyl groups, 3'-diphenylphosphino-5-methyl-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (1b, Me-dppterth) and 3'-diphenylphosphino-5,5' '-dimethyl-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (1c, Me2-dppterth) were prepared, and the corresponding series of Pd complexes was synthesized. One of these complexes, [Pd(Me2-dppterth-P,C3)(Me2-dppterth-P,S1)][PF6] (5c), has been crystallographically characterized. The electropolymerized films prepared from 5a react with isonitriles, and shifts in the absorption spectra of the electropolymerized materials are observed upon reaction. A Pd complex has also been prepared from 5-diphenylphosphino-2,2':5'2' '-terthiophene (2, 5dppterth), and this complex has been electropolymerized. All the electropolymerized thin films have been characterized using EDX analysis, which demonstrates good correspondence with the elemental analysis of the respective monomers, and the maximum conductivities of the films are near 10(-4) S x cm(-1). Comparing the electropolymerization behavior of the complexes, along with their electrochemical and spectroscopic data, allows conclusions to be drawn regarding the involvement of pi-delocalization and the metal group in the conductivity of the materials.