Characterization of a New Tetranuclear Cluster of Palladium, [Pd4(dppm)4(H)]—

The recently discovered and characterized Pd₄(dppm)₄(H)]²⁺ cluster catalyst ( 1 ; dppm = Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂), slowly evolves in the presence of the reducing tetraphenylborate anion, to generate a new diamagnetic cluster Pd₄(dppm)₄(H)]⁺ ( 2 ). The evolution of this starting material 1 , has been monitored using NMR (¹H and ³¹P), UV‐vis and ESR spectroscopy. This new 56‐electron Pd cluster has been characterized from X‐ray crystallography, and consists of a cyclic species exhibiting an approximate puckered square structure. The Pd₂ bond distances are 2.7367(10) and 2.7495(11)Å and indicate the presence of weak bonding. The diagonal Pd···Pd separations are 3.646(10) and 3.590(10)Å indicating that the square is relatively symmetric. Such a structure is unprecedented for “Pd_x(dppm)_x” species. Although not formally observed from the X‐ray data, the hydride is assumed to be fluxional as found in 1 . The cyclic voltammogram for 2 exhibits an irreversible reduction wave at —1.65V vs SCE which is greater than that found for 1 , and corroborates the lower oxidation state for Pd (+1/2). The Pd‐H bonding scheme and MO symmetry for a model cluster where the hydride has been placed at the center of the Pd₄ frame, have been addressed qualitatively using the EHMO model. These calculations demonstrate clearly that the Pd‐H bonding is strong.