FACILE INTRA-MOLECULAR METALATION OF TRI-TERT-BUTYLPHOSPHINE IN PALLADIUM(II) HYDRIDE COMPLEXES

Palladium(II) hydride complexes, PdH(X)(PBu-t3)2 (I) (where X = Cl, Br or CF3COO) undergo rapid intramolecular metalation in solution under ambient conditions, producing internally metalated complexes of the type, PdX(PBu-t2CMe2CH2)(PBu-t3) (II). These complexes lose one mol equivalent of phosphine in solution to give the bridged dimeric complexes, [PdX(PBu-t2-CMe2CH2)]2 (III). Reaction of complex I, II or III with sodium borohydride produces bis(tri-t-butylphosphine)palladium(O), which is also obtained when PdH(X)(PBu-t3)2 reacts with n-butyllithium. © 1979.