Synthesis and redox reactions of bis(verdazyl)palladium complexes

The synthesis and ligand-centered redox chemistry of palladium complexes bearing two potentially bidentate verdazyl ligands is explored. Reaction of 1,5-diisopropyl-3-pyridin-2-yl-6-oxoverdazyl radical 1 with Pd(NCMe)₄·2BF₄ gives a complex containing two coordinated verdazyl radicals. The structure of this complex consists of one verdazyl bound to Pd in a bidentate mode and the second verdazyl bound in a monodentate fashion through the pyridine substituent; the fourth coordination site is occupied by a solvent molecule (acetonitrile (3) or dimethyl sulfoxide (4)). Two-electron reduction of this complex with decamethylferrocene affords a bis(verdazyl) palladium complex (5) in which both verdazyls have been reduced to their anionic state and are both bound to Pd in bidentate manner. Complex 5 can be independently synthesized by a redox reaction between 1 and Pd₂(dba)₃. Reduced complex 5 can be re-oxidized to 3 or 4 with AgBF₄; in contrast, oxidation with PhICl₂ leads to ligand dissociation, ultimately giving radical 1 and a mono(verdazyl)dichloropalladium complex 2. One-electron oxidation using PhICl₂ produces a formally "mixed valent" (in ligand) bis(verdazyl)chloropalladium complex (6) with one bidentate verdazyl anion ligand and one monodentate (pyridine-bound) verdazyl radical. Attempted protonation of the verdazyl ligands in complex 5 leads to complete ligand dissociation and protonation of both the tetrazine and pyridine moieties; deprotonation regenerates 5. Subsequent air oxidation of the tetrazane/pyridinium cation (formed as a tetrachloropalladate salt) leads to re-coordination of the verdazyl ligands to give 6 initially, but ultimately produces a combination of free radical 1 and 2.