Abstract: | Cationic palladium(II) complexes of ferrocenylphosphines [(L-L′)Pd(S)2][ClO4]2 ((L-L′) = Fe(η5-C5H4P (C6H5)2)2 1, or Fe(η5-C5H5)(η5C5H3(CHMeNMe2)P(C6H5)2-1,2) 2a: S=pyridine or dimethylformamide) were prepared and characterized. The derivatives of 2a are effective catalysts for the hydrogenation of simple olefins at 30°C (1 atm H2). The rate of reduction of styrene depends on the substrate concentration, catalyst concentration and the solvent, and is only slightly inhibited (16%) by the addition of mercury. These observations are conistent with a homogeneous catalytic system. |