Reversible Dihydrogen Activation and Catalytic H/D Exchange with Group 10 Heterometallic Complexes

Reaction of a hexagonal planar palladium complex featuring a [PdMg₃ H₃ ] core with H₂ is reversible and leads to the formation of a new [PdMg₂ H₄ ] tetrahydride species alongside an equivalent of a magnesium hydride co-product [MgH]. While the reversibility of this process prevented isolation of [PdMg₂ H₄ ], analogous [PtMg₂ H₄ ] and [PtZn₂ H₄ ] complexes could be isolated and characterised through independent syntheses. Computational analysis (DFT, AIM, NCIPlot) of the bonding in a series of heterometallic tetrahydride compounds (Ni-Pt; Mg and Zn) suggests that these complexes are best described as square planar with marginal metal-metal interactions; the strength of which increases slightly as group 10 is descended and increases from Mg to Zn. DFT calculations support a mechanism for H₂ activation involving a ligand-assisted oxidative addition to Pd. These findings were exploited to develop a catalytic protocol for H/D exchange into magnesium hydride and zinc hydride bonds.