Sterically and Electronically Flexible Pyridylidene Amine Dinitrogen Ligands at Palladium: Hemilabile cis/trans Coordination and Application in Dehydrogenation Catalysis

Ligand design is crucial for the development of new catalysts and materials with new properties. Herein, the synthesis and unique hemilabile coordination properties of new bis-pyridylidene amine (bis-PYE) ligands to palladium, and preliminary catalytic activity of these complexes in formic acid dehydrogenation are described. The synthetic pathway to form cationic complexes Pd(bis-PYE)Cl(L)]X with a cis-coordinated N,N-bidentate bis-PYE ligand is flexible and provides access to a diversity of Pd^II complexes with different ancillary ligands (L=pyridine, DMAP, PPh₃, Cl, P(OMe)₃). The ¹H NMR chemical shift of the trans-positioned PYE N−CH₃ unit is identified as a convenient and diagnostic handle to probe the donor properties of these ancillary ligands and demonstrates the electronic flexibility of the PYE ligand sites. In the presence of a base, the originally cis-coordinated bis-PYE ligand adopts a N,N,N-tridentate coordination mode with the two PYE units in mutual trans position. This cis–trans isomerization is reverted in presence of an acid, demonstrating a unique structural and steric flexibility of the bis-PYE ligand at palladium in addition to its electronic adaptability. The palladium complexes are active in formic acid dehydrogenation to H₂ and CO₂. The catalytic performance is directly dependent on the ligand bonding mode, the nature of the ancillary ligand, the counteranion, and additives. The most active system features a bidentate bis-PYE ligand, PPh₃ as ancillary ligand and accomplishes turnover frequencies up to 525 h⁻¹ in the first hour and turnover numbers of nearly 1000, which is the highest activity reported for palladium-based catalysts to date.