A theoretical investigation of the oxidation states of palladium complexes and their role in the carbonylation reaction

Two different, yet related, topics are discussed: (i) the reduction of palladium (II) in Pd(OAc)₂ complexes reacting with phenyl phosphines and leading to Pd(0) phosphine complexes, and (ii) the carbonylation reaction of allyl chlorides catalyzed by these Pd(0) species. The results show that the overall reduction is an exothermic process that can be accomplished along two different reaction paths, one being clearly favoured over the other. Similarly, three different channels have been determined for the carbonylation reaction that primarily differ in the timing and the way in which the reacting species bind the metal. In the first path (the σ-path), the allyl fragment interacts very weakly with the metal, whereas the CO molecule strongly binds it and reacts with the allyl. The second channel (the π–η³ pathway) is characterized by a π–η³ interaction between the allyl fragment and the palladium, to which the CO molecule binds, before the two units react affording the product. In both cases, two consecutive migrations of the chlorine ‘assist’ the course of the reaction. In the third case (the η² pathway) the allyl fragment initially enters the palladium coordination sphere, and the CO molecule then simultaneously binds it and the phosphorous atom of one phosphine ligand. The first two paths are favoured.