Reversible Gas-Solid Ammonia N-H Bond Activation Mediated by an Organopalladium Complex

N-H bond activation of gaseous ammonia is achieved at room temperature in a reversible solvent-free reaction using a solid dicyclopalladated azobenzene complex. Monitoring of the gas-solid reaction in real-time by in situ solid-state Raman spectroscopy enabled a detailed insight into the stepwise activation pathway proceeding to the final amido complex via a stable diammine intermediate. Gas-solid synthesis allowed for isolation and subsequent structural characterization of the intermediate and the final amido product, which presents the first dipalladated complex with the Pd^II-(μ-NH₂)-Pd^II bridge. Gas-solid reaction is readily followed via color changes associated with conformational switching of the palladated azobenzene backbone. The reaction proceeds analogously in solution and was characterized by UV-vis and NMR spectroscopies showing the same stepwise route to the amido complex. Combining the experimental data with density functional theory calculations we propose a stepwise mechanism of this heterolytic N-H bond activation assisted by exogenous ammonia.