Reversible Orthopalladation of Phosphinimine−Imine Dichloropalladium(II) Complexes

The synthesis and characterization of triphenylphosphinimine−arylimine bidentate ligands (aryl = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl or 4-methylphenyl) along with their dichloropalladium(II) complexes are reported. These complexes form tridentate orthopalladated species upon heating in the presence of sodium acetate. The reverse reaction occurs upon addition of HCl·Et2O. The rate of orthopalladation and reprotonation is highly dependent on the steric bulk of the ligand. Related cationic species were also synthesized and characterized and found to be inert in the presence of 1-hexene and styrene.