Some mixed-ligand palladium(II) complexes and comparison of their photosensitizing ability with analogous platinum(II) complexes

Three new palladium(II) complexes of formula [Pd(bipy)(XX)] [where bipy is 2,2′-bipyridine and XX are dianions of catechol (CAT), 4-tert-butylcatechol (BCAT) and 3,4-dimercaptotoluene (DMT)] have been prepared and characterized by physical methods. A ligand-ligand charge-transfer band in each complex was observed between 16–21 kK (ε_max = 1500–2200 1 mol^?1 cm^?1) which is negatively solvochromic. These palladium(II) complexes in dimethylformamide photosensitize the formation of singlet oxygen and their ability to photosensitize triplet oxygen (³O₂) to singlet oxygen (¹O₂) are compared with analogous platinum(II) complexes. In addition, 2,2′-bipyridine-platinum(II) complex of 3,4-dimercaptotoluene also undergoes self-sensitized photooxidation.