Concise syntheses of tridentate PNE ligands and their coordination chemistry with palladium(II) : a solution- and solid-state study

A straightforward methodology for the high-yielding synthesis of the di-functionalised phosphines {Ph2P(CH2)2NC4H8E, E = NMe (1), O (2), S (3)}via base-catalysed Michael addition is described. Reaction of the functionalised tertiary phosphines 1-3 with PdCl2(MeCN)2 affords complexes in which the ligands are bound in a tridentate fashion, namely PdCl(kappa3-PNE)]Cl (6a, 8) as the predominant products. A kappa2-PN coordination mode was also identified crystallographically for ligand following its reaction with PdCl2(MeCN)2, which afforded PdCl2(-kappa2-PN)] (6b) in ca. 5% yield. Conductivity studies of solutions of 6a are consistent with an ionic formulation, however the poor solubility of and precluded their study in a similar fashion. Analysis of bulk samples of PdCl2(1)] (6) and PdCl2(3)] (8) by 15N and 31P NMR spectroscopy in the solid state as consistent with exclusive tridentate binding of the PNE ligands. An X-ray crystallographic study has probed the coordination of in the unusual salt PdCl(-kappa3-PNN)]2Mg(SO4)2(OH2)4] (10) prepared by treating a methanolic solution of with excess MgSO4. No data could be obtained to support the transformation of 6a into 6b on addition of excess chloride. In contrast, 6a reacts regioselectively with the water-soluble phosphine Cy2PCH2CH2NMe3Cl to afford the cis-diphosphine complex cis-PdCl(Cy2PCH2CH2NMe3Cl)(1-kappa2-PN)]Cl2 (9). Reaction of 1 with PdCl(Me)(COD) results in the formation of the kappa2-PN dichloride complex PdCl(Me)(1-kappa(2)-PN)] (11). Attempts to prepare Pd(Me)(MeCN)(-kappa2-PN)]PF6] (12) through reaction of 11 with NaPF6 in MeCN led to decomposition. Treatment of PdMe2(TMEDA) with 1 at low temperature initially affords PdMe2(1-kappa2-NN)], which isomerises to afford PdMe(2)(1-kappa(2)-PN)] (13); at temperatures greater than 10 degrees C complex 13 decomposes rapidly.