Novel structures of cyclometallated complexes of palladium(II) derived from terdentate ligands. Crystal and molecular structure of [Pd{C6H4C(H)=NCH2CH2CH2NMe2}(X)] (X=Cl, Br, I)

Treatment of N-(2-chlorobenzylidene)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (1) and N-(2-bromo-3,4-(MeO)₂-benzylidene)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (20) with tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) in toluene gave the mononuclear cyclometallated complexes Pd{C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(Cl)] (2) and Pd{3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(Br)] (21), respectively, via oxidative addition reaction with the ligand as a C,N,N terdentate ligand. Reaction of 2 with sodium bromide or iodide in an acetone–water mixture gave the cyclometallated analogues of 2, Pd{C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(Br)] (3) and Pd{C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(I)] (4), by halogen exchange. The X-ray crystal structures of 2, 3 and 4 were determined and discussed. Treatment of 2, 3, 4 and 21 with tertiary monophosphines in acetone gave the mononuclear cyclometallated complexes Pd{C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(L)(X)] (6: L=PPh₃, X=Cl; 7: L=PPh₃, X=Br; 8: L=PPh₃, X=I; 9: L=PMePh₂, X=Cl; 10: L=PMe₂Ph, X=Cl) and Pd{3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(L)(Br)] (22: L=PPh₃; 23: L=PMePh₂; 24: L=PMe₂Ph). A fluxional behaviour due to an uncoordinated CH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂ could be determined by variable temperature NMR spectroscopy. Treatment of 2, 3 and 4 with silver trifluoromethanesulfonate followed by reaction with triphenylphosphine gave the mononuclear complex Pd{C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(PPh₃)]F₃CSO₃] (11) where the Pd–NMe₂ bond was retained. Reaction of 2, 3 and 4 with ditertiary diphosphines in a cyclometallated complex–diphosphine 2:1 molar ratio gave the binuclear complexes {PdC₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂](X)}₂(μ-L–L)]L–L=PPh₂(CH₂)₄PPh₂(dppb) (13, X=Cl; 14, X=Br; 15, X=I; L–L=PPh₂(CH₂)₅PPh₂(dpppe): 16, X=Cl; 17, X=Br; 18, X=I) with palladium–NMe₂ bond cleavage. Treatment of 2, 3 and 4 with ditertiary diphosphines, in a cyclometallated complex–diphosphine 2:1, molar ratio and AgSO₃CF₃ gave the binuclear cyclometallated complexes {PdC₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂]}₂(μ-L–L)]F₃CSO₃]₂ (11: L–L=PPh₂(CH₂)₄PPh₂(dppb), X=Cl; 12: L–L=PPh₂(CH₂)₅PPh₂ (dpppe), X=Cl). Reaction of 2 with the ditertiary diphosphine cis-dppe in a cyclometallated complex–diphosphine 1:1 molar ratio followed by treatment with sodium perchlorate gave the mononuclear cyclometallated complex Pd{C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(cis-PPh₂CH=CHPPh₂–P,P)]ClO₄] (19).