Bis[N-(2,6-di-t-butyl-1-hydroxyphenyl)salicylideneaminato]palladium(II) complexes and their radical intermediates generated by PbO2 and PPh3

New bisN-(2,6-di-t-butyl-1-hydroxyphenyl)salicylideneminato]palladium(II) Pd(L ^x )₂] complexes bearing HO and MeO substituents on the salicyaldehyde moiety were prepared, and their spectroscopic properties, as well as redox reactivity towards PbO₂ and PPh₃, examined by e.s.r. and u.v. spectroscopy. The complexes display charge-transfer bands in the 670–692 nm range in polar solvents, which are assigned to the d(Pd) * (chelated quinoid) transition. One-electron oxidation of Pd(L ^x )₂ produces Pd^II-stabilized radicals in which the unpaired electrons are localized on the phenoxy fragments and do not couple with the two radical centers. The complexes are easily reduced with PPh₃ via intramolecular electron-transfer from ligand to metal to give various radical intermediates and Pd. All detected radical species have been characterized by e.s.r. spectroscopy.