Self-assembly of cationic palladium complexes by redistribution of pyridine ligands

The reaction of [Pd(OAC)(2)(py)(2)] with [Li((OEt2)(2.5))][B(C6F5)(4)] was conducted with intent to generate the cationic palladium complex [Pd(OAc)(py)(3)][B(C6F5)(4)], (2, py pyridine). A single crystal structure of this material, however, reveals a 1-D polymer structure formed by the self-assembly of alternating clicationic ([Pd(py)(4)](2+)) and neutral ([Pd(OAc)(2)(py)(2)]) palladium units bridged by acetato linkages to give [Pd(py)(4)][Pd(OAc)(2)(py)(2)][B(C6F5)(4)](2) (3). These two palladium sites are produced by disproportionation of the pyridine ligands in [Pd(OAc)(py)(3)][B(C6F5)(4)]. Proton NMR studies confirm the existence of a solvent dependent equilibrium between [Pd(py)(4)](2+), [Pd(OAC)(2)(py)(2)] and [Pd(OAc)(py)(3)](+). (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.