Carbon-halogen bond activation mechanism by copper(I) complexes of (2-pyridyl)alkylamine ligands

The reaction of p-substituted benzyl halides ((Y)BnX; X = Cl, Br, and I; Y = p-substituent, OMe, t-Bu, Me, H, F, Cl, and NO(2)) and copper(I) complexes supported by a series of (2-pyridyl)alkylamine ligands has been investigated to shed light on the mechanism of copper(I) complex mediated carbon-halogen bond activation, including ligand effects on the redox reactivity of copper(I) complexes which are relevant to the chemistry. For both the tridentate ligand (Phe)L(Pym2) [N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-phenylethylamine] and tetradentate ligand TMPA [tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine] complexes, the C-C coupling reaction of benzyl halides proceeded smoothly to give corresponding 1,2-diphenylethane derivatives and copper(II)-halide complex products. Kinetic analysis revealed that the reaction obeys second-order kinetics both on the copper complex and the substrate; rate = k[Cu](2)[(Y)BnX](2). A reaction mechanism involving a dinuclear copper(III)-halide organometallic intermediate is proposed, on the basis of the kinetic results, including observed electronic effects of p-substituents (Hammett plot) and the rate dependence on the BDE (bond dissociation energy) of the C-X bond, as well as the ligand effects.     

Structures and magnetic properties of copper(II) complexes containing tetrakis(2-pyridyl)methane

We designed spiro-fused dinculear complexes using tetrakis(2-pyridyl)methane (py₄C) for the development of ground high-spin molecules. We attempted to prepare a dinuclear copper(II) complex [{Cu(hfac)₂}₂(py₄C)], where hfac stands for 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dionate, but we obtained [Cu(hfac)₂(py₄C)] and [Cu(hfac)(py₄C) · Cu(hfac)₃]. These molecular structures were determined by the X-ray crystal structure analysis.     

Fine-tuning of copper(I)-dioxygen reactivity by 2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine bidentate ligands

Copper(I)-dioxygen reactivity has been examined using a series of 2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine bidentate ligands (R1)Py1(R2,R3). The bidentate ligand with the methyl substituent on the pyridine nucleus (Me)Py1(Et,Bz) (N-benzyl-N-ethyl-2-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)ethylamine) predominantly provided a (mu-eta(2):eta(2)-peroxo)dicopper(II) complex, while the bidentate ligand without the 6-methyl group (H)Py1(Et,Bz) (N-benzyl-N-ethyl-2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine) afforded a bis(mu-oxo)dicopper(III) complex under the same experimental conditions. Both Cu(2)O(2) complexes gradually decompose, leading to oxidative N-dealkylation reaction of the benzyl group. Detailed kinetic analysis has revealed that the bis(mu-oxo)dicopper(III) complex is the common reactive intermediate in both cases and that O[bond]O bond homolysis of the peroxo complex is the rate-determining step in the former case with (Me)Py1(Et,Bz). On the other hand, the copper(I) complex supported by the bidentate ligand with the smallest N-alkyl group ((H)Py1(Me,Me), N,N-dimethyl-2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine) reacts with molecular oxygen in a 3:1 ratio in acetone at a low temperature to give a mixed-valence trinuclear copper(II, II, III) complex with two mu(3)-oxo bridges, the UV-vis spectrum of which is very close to that of an active oxygen intermediate of lacase. Detailed spectroscopic analysis on the oxygenation reaction at different concentrations has indicated that a bis(mu-oxo)dicopper(III) complex is the precursor for the formation of trinuclear copper complex. In the reaction with 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (DBP), the trinuclear copper(II, II, III) complex acts as a two-electron oxidant to produce an equimolar amount of the C[bond]C coupling dimer of DBP (3,5,3',5'-tetra-tert-butyl-biphenyl-2,2'-diol) and a bis(mu-hydroxo)dicopper(II) complex. Kinetic analysis has shown that the reaction consists of two distinct steps, where the first step involves a binding of DBP to the trinuclear complex to give a certain intermediate that further reacts with the second molecule of DBP to give another intermediate, from which the final products are released. Steric and/or electronic effects of the 6-methyl group and the N-alkyl substituents of the bidentate ligands on the copper(I)-dioxygen reactivity have been discussed.     

Dicopper(I) complexes of unsymmetrical binucleating ligands and their dioxygen reactivities

The design, synthesis, and characterization of binuclear copper(I) complexes and investigations of their dioxygen reactivities are of interest in understanding fundamental aspects of copper/O2 reactivity and in modeling copper enzyme active-site chemistry. In the latter regard, unsymmetrical binuclear systems are of interest. Here, we describe the chemistry of new unsymmetrical binuclear copper complexes, starting with the binucleating ligand UN2-H, possessing a m-xylyl moiety linking a bis[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]amine (PY2) tridentate chelator and a 2-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]pyridine bidentate group. Dicopper(I) complexes of UN2-H, [Cu2(UN2-H)]2+ (1), as PF6- and ClO4- salts, are synthesized. These react with O2 (Cu:O2 = 2:1, manometry) resulting in the hydroxylation of the xylyl moiety, producing the phenoxohydroxodicopper(II) complex [Cu2(UN2-O-)(OH-)(CH3CN)]2+ (2). Compound 2(PF6)2 is characterized by X-ray crystallography, which reveals features similar to those of a structure described previously (Karlin, K. D.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1984, 106, 2121-2128) for a symmetrical binucleating analogue having two tridentate PY2 moieties; here a CH3CN ligand replaces one pyridylethyl arm. Isotope labeling from a reaction of 1 using 18O2 shows that the ligand UN2-OH, extracted from 2, possesses an 18O-labeled phenol oxygen atom. Thus, the transformation 1 + O2-->2 represents a monooxygenase model system. [CuI2(UN2-OH)(CH3CN)]2+ (3), a new binuclear dicopper(I) complex with an unsymmetrical coordination environment is generated either by reduction of 2 with diphenylhydrazine or in reactions of cuprous salts with UN2-OH. Complex 3 reacts with O2 at -80 degrees C, producing the (mu-1,1-hydroperoxo)dicopper(II) complex [CuII2(UN2-O-)(OOH-)]2+ (4) (lambda max 390 nm (epsilon 4200 M-1 cm-1), formulated on the basis of the stoichiometry of O2 uptake by 3 (Cu:O2 = 2:1, manometry), its reaction with PPh3 giving O=PPh3 (85%), and comparison to previously studied close analogues. Discussions include the relevance and comparison to other copper bioinorganic chemistry.     

Phosphodiester cleavage properties of copper(II) complexes of 1,4,7-triazacyclononane ligands bearing single alkyl guanidine pendants

Three new metal-coordinating ligands, L(1)·4HCl [1-(2-guanidinoethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane tetrahydrochloride], L(2)·4HCl [1-(3-guanidinopropyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane tetrahydrochloride], and L(3)·4HCl [1-(4-guanidinobutyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane tetrahydrochloride], have been prepared via the selective N-functionalization of 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (tacn) with ethylguanidine, propylguanidine, and butylguanidine pendants, respectively. Reaction of L(1)·4HCl with Cu(ClO(4))(2)·6H(2)O in basic aqueous solution led to the crystallization of a monohydroxo-bridged binuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu(2)L(1)(2)(μ-OH)](ClO(4))(3)·H(2)O (C1), while for L(2) and L(3), mononuclear complexes of composition [Cu(L(2)H)Cl(2)]Cl·(MeOH)(0.5)·(H(2)O)(0.5) (C2) and [Cu(L(3)H)Cl(2)]Cl·(DMF)(0.5)·(H(2)O)(0.5) (C3) were crystallized from methanol and DMF solutions, respectively. X-ray crystallography revealed that in addition to a tacn ring from L(1) ligand, each copper(II) center in C1 is coordinated to a neutral guanidine pendant. In contrast, the guanidinium pendants in C2 and C3 are protonated and extend away from the Cu(II)-tacn units. Complex C1 features a single μ-hydroxo bridge between the two copper(II) centers, which mediates strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal centers. Complexes C2 and C3 cleave two model phosphodiesters, bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP) and 2-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenylphosphate (HPNPP), more rapidly than C1, which displays similar reactivity to [Cu(tacn)(OH(2))(2)](2+). All three complexes cleave supercoiled plasmid DNA (pBR 322) at significantly faster rates than the corresponding bis(alkylguanidine) complexes and [Cu(tacn)(OH(2))(2)](2+). The high DNA cleavage rate for C1 {k(obs) = 1.30 (±0.01) × 10(-4) s(-1) vs 1.23 (±0.37) × 10(-5) s(-1) for [Cu(tacn)(OH(2))(2)](2+) and 1.58 (±0.05) × 10(-5) s(-1) for the corresponding bis(ethylguanidine) analogue} indicates that the coordinated guanidine group in C1 may be displaced to allow for substrate binding/activation. Comparison of the phosphate ester cleavage properties of complexes C1-C3 with those of related complexes suggests some degree of cooperativity between the Cu(II) centers and the guanidinium groups.     

Heteroligand copper(II) complexes with hydroxyethyleneiminodiacetic acid and bidentate nitrogen-containing ligands: Structures and properties

Procedures were proposed for the synthesis of the heteroligand copper(II) complexes with N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid (H₂Heida) and 2-aminoethanol and ethylenediamine ligands. The optimal parameters of solutions for the isolation of ternary complexes were found. Heteroligand complexes Cu(Heida)En · 3H₂O (I) and Cu(Heida)Mea (II) (En is ethylenediamine, and Mea is 2-aminoethanol) were examined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The thermal properties of complexes I and II and their thermodynamic stability in aqueous solutions were studied.     

Nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes of 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole: synthesis and structural characterization

2-(2-Pyridyl)benzimidazole (PBI) was synthesized by solvent-free aldol condensation and complexed with nickel(II) and copper(II) nitrate and perchlorate salts by simple reactions at room temperature. The transition metal complexes [Ni(PBI)₂NO₃](NO₃) (1), [Ni(PBI)₃](ClO₄)₂·1.5H₂O (2), [Cu(PBI)₂NO₃](NO₃) (3), and [Cu(PBI)₃](ClO₄)₂·3H₂O (4) (PBI = 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole) were synthesized in good yield and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography, infrared absorption spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Complexes 1 and 3 are isostructural, crystallizing in the same space group P2₁/c. Both the nickel(II) and copper(II) atoms have distorted square pyramidal geometries. The metal centers in these complexes are coordinated by two molecules of the bidentate ligand (PBI) and an O-atom of the coordinated nitrate anion. Complexes 2 and 4 are also isostructural but do not crystallize in the same space group: P-1 for 2 and Pccn for 4. The geometry around both the nickel(II) and the copper(II) centers is distorted octahedral. Here, the metal atoms are coordinated by three molecules of 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole. The copper(II) complex 4 has 2-fold symmetry with one of the three PBI ligands being positionally disordered about the 2-fold axis. Intermolecular N–H···O hydrogen bonds, involving the NH H-atom and an O-atom of the coordinated nitrate anion, are observed in all four complexes. In 1 and 3, this gives rise to the formation of centrosymmetric dimer-like structures that are decorated by hydrogen-bonded nitrate anions. In 2 and 4 the perchlorate anions and the water molecules of crystallization are involved in N–H···O and O–H···O hydrogen bonds bridging two symmetry-related cations, thus forming cyclic arrangements. In the case of complex 4, this leads to the formation of two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded networks parallel to plane (011). Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Effects of alkyl chain length on surface and micellar properties of octaethyleneglycol-n alkyl ethers

Summary Surface and micellar properties of a homologous series of Octaethylene glycol-n-alkyl ethers (C _n E₈;n = 9 to 15) have been studied in aqueous solutions by the surface tension measurements. The effects of the alkyl chain length comprising even and carbon numbers have been examined in order to evaluate the surface free energy G _A-W and the standard free energy G _m for the micellization obtained from their surface tension data. The areas per molecule and the equilibrium surface tension values at the CMC decreased with an increasing carbon number and they showed zigzag curves by the difference in even and odd carbon numbers.These findings may be attributed to the differences in the molecular orientation between the molecules with even carbon number and ones with odd carbon number on the air-water interface at CMC. G _A-W values decreased linearly with an increasing alkyl chain length but did not show a zigzag line by the differences in even and odd carbon numbers. This suggests that the molecular orientation is not influenced by the difference between their even and odd carbon numbers in the alkyl chain on the surface of the very diluted solution, and their molecules form some stable adsorbed films with an increase of the alkyl chain length. A division of G _A-W into the contribution made both by the hydrophilic group G _A-W (-W) and by the hydrophobic group G _A-W (-CH₂-) was attempted as follows; G _A-W (-CH₂-) = – 0.80 kcal/mol and G _a-W (-W) = + 0.15 kcal/mol.The free energy changes G _m of micellization were discussed on the basis of the CMC data obtained from the surface tension measurements by treating the formation of micelles as analogous to phase separation, and the contribution from the each moieties in the molecule were calculated as follows; G _m (-CH₂-) = – 0.68 kcal/mol and G _m (-W) = + 1.54 kcal/mol. The difference between G _A-W and G _m is discussed using their data.     

2-Oxooxazolopyridines. 1. Synthesis of alkyl N-(2-oxo-3-pyridyl)carbamates

A convenient method is proposed for the synthesis of new derivatives of the pyridine series, alkyl N-(2-oxo-3-pyridyl)carbamates (IIa-i, IVa-j), in the reaction of 7-trifluoromethyl-5-phenyl-2-oxooxazolo[5,4-b]pyridines (I, IIIa-j) with alcohols.Riga Technical University, Riga LV-1048. Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga LV-1006. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 241–249, February, 1997.     

Palladium(II) complexes bearing N‐alkylpiperidoimidazolin‐2‐ylidene derivatives: Effect of alkyl chain length of ligands on catalytic activity

A series of piperidoimidazolinium salts which differ in the chain lengths (butyl, octyl, dodecyl, octadecyl) and their Pd–N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes with pyridine were synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods. The effects of these ligands on catalyst activation and the performance of the complexes were studied in Suzuki–Miyaura reactions of arylboronic acid with aryl chlorides. The complex with the ligand having the longest chain length was found to be most active. The results demonstrated that the length of the alkyl chain of the piperidoimidazolin‐2‐ylidene controlled the dispersion and composition of the nanoparticles and it affected the catalytic activity. The impact of alkyl chain length of piperidoimidazolin‐2‐ylidene on the Suzuki–Miyaura reactions of arylboronic acid with aryl halides was systematically investigated.     

Complexes with diimine ligands. Syntheses and magnetic behaviour of dinuclear complexes of copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(II) with 2,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine

Summary The synthesis, characterization and voltammetric and magnetic behaviour of a series of dinuclear complexes -(2,5-DPP)[M(hfacac)₂]₂, in which hfacac is hexafluoro-acetylacetonate, 2,5-DPP is 2,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine and M = copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(II), are described. As with the dinuclear complexes derived from 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)-pyrazine (2,3-DPP) and analogous ligands, magnetic measurements show that these systems are not coupled. On the basis of magnetic data, we propose that, in contrast to related ligands such as 2,2-bipyridyl, the coordinated 2,5-DPP cannot be planar.     

Chloride-bridged oxovanadium(V) complexes with alkoxyalkoxide ligands. Synthesis, structure, electrochemistry and reactivities

A series of mixed alkoxyalkoxo chloro complexes of vanadium(V), [VOCl2(OCH2CH2OR)]2 (R = Me, Et, iPr, Bz), [VOCl2(OCMe2CH2OMe)]2 and [VOCl2(OCH2(cyclo-C4H7O)]2, were synthesised and characterised. The title compounds can be obtained either from VOCl3 and the alkoxyalcohols by HCl elimination or from the corresponding lithium alkoxides and VOCl3 by salt metathesis reaction. X-Ray diffraction studies revealed the title compounds to be dimers with chloride bridging ligands and intramolecular ether coordination. Electrochemical results obtained by cyclic voltammetry indicate irreversible, reductive behaviour. The interactions of the title compounds with oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus donor ligands were examined. Phosphorus and nitrogen donors lead to reduction products whereas tetrahydrofuran coordinates to the vanadium(V) centre by breaking the chloride bridge. All tetrahydrofuran complexes, [VOCl2(OCH2CH2OR)(thf)] (R = Me, Et, iPr) and [VOCl2(OCMe2CH2OMe)(thf)], have been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The solid-state structures of these complexes show that they consist of six-coordinate monomers. Reaction of [VOCl2(OCH2CH(2)OMe)]2 with Me3SiCH2MgCl gave [VO(CH2SiMe3)3], which has been structurally characterised. The compounds were tested as catalysts for epoxidation and polymerisation reactions. They convert unfunctionalised olefins into the corresponding epoxides with moderate activity. They are good pre-catalysts for the polymerisation of ethene and oligomerise 1-hexene.     

Understanding the stability, electronic and molecular structure of some copper(III) complexes containing alkyl and non alkyl ligands: Insights from DFT calculations

DFT calculations have been performed for some Cu(III)-alkyl complexes. Complexes 1-19 were optimized to the square planar (sq) geometry and observed no imaginary frequencies. Although formally copper adopts d⁸ configuration (Cu(III)) in all the complexes, the Natural Population Analysis (NPA) revealed that the copper actually in d¹⁰ (Cu(I)) configuration, Bond order calculation suggested that the Cu(III)-Et_trans bond gets more bond order in the presence of poor π-acidic co-ligand (probe ligand). Relatively smaller bond order was calculated for Cu(III)-Me_cis bond than Cu(III)-Et_trans bond and therefore Cu(III)-Et_trans bond is the strongest bond in all the complexes. Calculated less Chemical hardness (η) of complexes 1-19 suggested that all these complexes are less stable in nature. Energy Decomposition Analysis (EDA) revealed that the Cu(III)-Et_trans bond is relatively more stable than the Cu(III)-Me_cis and Cu(III)-L (L = co-ligand/probe ligand) bonds. And also the Cu(III)-alkyl (Cu(III)-Me_cis and Cu(III)-Et_trans) bond in complexes 1-17 is more of ionic in nature. However, Cu(III)-Et_trans bond is relatively more ionic than Cu(III)-Me_cis bond.     

Copper(I) and copper(II) complexes of diamino-dithioether ligands

Summary Copper(II) salts were reacted with two diamino-dithioether ligands, i.e. 1,3-di(o-aminophenylthio)propane (abbreviated H₂L¹) and 1,2-di(o-aminophenylthio)xylene (abbreviated H₂L²). Mixtures of copper(I) and copper(II) complexes were obtained with Cl^– and ClO ₄ ^– counterions. The major products were the copper(I) complexes, which were obtained pure after recrystallisation from MeCN-MeOH. The ligands lose two protons from the amine functions to form copper(I) complexes of general formula [CuL]X, where X = ClO ₄ ^– or Cl^–. The complexes were oxidised to [CuL]X₂ with H₂O₂ in DMF. Cu(NO₃)₂ on the other hand gave [CuH₂LNO₃]NO₃.     

Unusual redox and chemical properties of N4-substituted pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone copper(II) complexes: their preparation,properties and reactivities

Summary New copper(II) complexes with pyridoxal N⁴-methylthiosemicarbazone (H₂Methsa), N⁴-ethylthiosemicarbazone (H₂Etthsa) and N⁴-phenylthiosemicarbazone (H₂Phthsa) have been prepared and characterized by analytical, magnetic, spectral, e.s.r. and electrochemical methods. All the compounds exhibit normal magnetic moments at room temperature. The variable temperature magnetic moments, however, show the presence of very weak intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction (–2J = ca. 30cm^-1) between the copper(II) centres in the complexes. The e.s.r. spectra at 77 K in DMSO indicate the presence of a mixture of monomers and dimers consistent with the dissociation of the complexes. Electrochemical studies in non-aqueous solvents show that the complexes undergo a quasi-reversible one electron facile reduction at markedly low negative potentials versus saturated calomel electrode (s.c.e.).     

Synthesis and crystal structure determination of copper(II) and iron(III) complexes of 2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiazole

Two complexes [Cu^II(pbt)(dmf)Cl₂] and [Fe^III(pbt)Cl₃], where pbt is 2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiazole, and dmf is dimethylformamide, were prepared by the reaction of metal chlorides with pbt solutions. The structures of the products were identified by elemental analysis, usual spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal data revealed penta-coordination around both metal ions, with trigonal bipyramidal geometries. 2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiazole binds to both Cu^II and Fe^III in the N,N-chelation manner and leaves the S atom uncoordinated.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of a 2-(2-pyridyl)imidazole derivative and its copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes

The hydrothermal synthesis of a heterocyclic quaternary nitrogen compound, namely, 6,7-dihydro-pyrido[2′,1′:3,4]pyrazino[1,2-a]imidazol-5-ium-bromide monohydrate (LBr · H₂O) is reported. Various spectroscopic analyses were performed on the cationic heterocycle. Cu^II and Zn^II halide complexes of this novel ligand were prepared. The heterocycle and its complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Both complexes contain neutral [M^IILX₃] molecules, where the cyclic ligand (L⁺) is coordinated to the metal as a monodentate ligand. The Cu²⁺ complex has a distorted tetrahedral geometry, indicating an obvious steric effect from L⁺ on the chloride co-ligand. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Multi-biofunctional complexes combining antiseptic copper(II) with antibiotic sulfonamide ligands: Structural, redox and antibacterial study

Copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes of sulfadimethoxine, sulfadiazine, sulfamerazine and sulfamethazine were synthesized with a good yield according to an original procedure. These complexes were first characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electrochemistry. Structural inspections showed that the antibacterial entity of ligands remains non-coordinated to metal ions in the complex high-lighting the fact that in each cluster, antiseptic activity of the metal has been associated to the antibiotic activity of the ligand. In order to confirm this possibility, antibacterial activities of the complexes were studied on several bacteria. The antibacterial activity of the complex is as important as the ligands one with the addition of antiseptic activity via the incorporation of copper ions.     

Palladium(II) beta-agostic alkyl cations and alkyl ethylene complexes: investigation of polymer chain isomerization mechanisms.

A series of stable dialkyl complexes of Pd, (alpha-diimine)PdR2 (alpha-diimine = aryl-substituted diimine, R = n-Pr, n-Bu, i-Bu), have been prepared via Grignard alkylation of the corresponding (alpha-diimine)PdCl2 complexes. Protonation of these dialkyl species at low temperature results in loss of alkane and formation of cationic Pd beta-agostic alkyl complexes, which have been observed as intermediates in the polymerization of ethylene and propylene by these Pd catalysts. Studies of the structure and dynamic behavior of these alkyl complexes are presented, along with the results of trapping reactions of these species with ligands such as NCMe, CO, and C2H4. Trapping with ethylene results in formation of cationic alkyl ethylene complexes which model the catalyst resting state in these systems. These complexes have been used to obtain mechanistic details and kinetic parameters of several processes, including isomerization of the alkyl ethylene complexes, associative and dissociative exchange with free ethylene, and migratory insertion rates of both primary and secondary alkyl ethylene species. These studies indicate that the overall branching observed in polyethylenes produced by these Pd catalysts is governed both by the kinetics of migratory insertion and by the equilibria involving the alkyl ethylene complexes.