Unexpected solids from enantiopure cationic palladium complexes and racemic anions: A structural study of chiral non-discrimination

Enantiomerically pure cationic complexes were obtained via cyclopalladation of primary amines and subsequent addition of a chelating ethylendiamine ligand. No diastereomeric resolution was observed upon combining these cations with racemic mandelate or hydratropate anions, but four less popular products, namely three double salts and a solid solution, were obtained and structurally characterized. For one of the double salts, the alternative ionic compounds based on different stereoisomers of the same residues were synthesized independently: The conventional racemic solid and both diastereomeric salts formed by enantiopure cations and anions were studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Lattice energy calculations confirm that the diastereomeric salts differ significantly; formation of the partially racemic double salt, however, is energetically favourable and precludes resolution.