Synthesis and structure of tetranuclear orthometallated Pd(II) complexes derived from bis-iminophosphoranes

The reaction of Pd(OAc)2 with bis-iminophosphoranes Ph3P=NCH2CH2CH2N=PPh3 (1a), [C6H4(C(O)N=PPh3)2-1,3] (1b) and [C6H4(C(O)N=PPh3)2-1,2] (1c), gives the orthopalladated tetranuclear complexes [{Pd(mu-Cl){C6H4(PPh2=NCH2-kappa-C,N)-2}}2CH2]2 (2a) [{Pd(mu-OAc){C6H4(PPh2=NC(O)-kappa-C,N)-2}}2C6H4-1',3']2 (2b) and [{Pd(mu-OAc){C6H4(PPh2=NC(O)-kappa-C,N)-2}}2C6H4-1',2']2 (2c). The reaction takes place in CH2Cl2 for 1a, but must be performed in glacial acetic acid for 1b and 1c. The process implies in all cases the activation of a C-H bond on a Ph ring of the phosphonium group, with concomitant formation of endo complexes. This is the expected behaviour for 1a, but for 1b and 1c reverses the exo orientation observed in other ketostabilized iminophosphoranes. The influence of the solvent in the orientation of the reaction is discussed. The dinuclear acetylacetonate complexes [{Pd(acac-O,O'){C6H4(PPh2=NCH2-kappa-C,N)-2}}2CH2] (3a), [{Pd(acac-O,O'){C6H4(PPh2=NC(O)-kappa-C,N)-2}}2C6H4-1',3'] (3b) and [{Pd(acac-O,O'){C6H4(PPh2=NC(O)-kappa-C,N)-2}}2C6H4-1',2'] (3c) have been obtained from the halide-bridging tetranuclear derivatives. The X-ray crystal structure of [3c.4CHCl3] is also reported.