Synthesis of π-aryloxide complexes of nickel and palladium

The reaction of the palladium chloroallyl dimer [Pd(mu-Cl)(eta(3)-C3H5)](2), 1, with 2 equiv of the sodium salt of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (NaOAr) gives a thermally unstable, aryloxide-bridged binuclear allyl complex [Pd(mu-OAr)(eta(3)-C3H5)](2). In contrast, 2, the nickel analogue of 1, furnishes an unusual mononuclear allyl derivative, 4, which contains a pi,eta(5)-aryloxide ligand. Larger amounts of the sodium aryloxide react with 1 or 2, affording binuclear "ate" complexes containing both sigma,mu- and pi,eta(5)-aryloxide ligands.