Synthesis and structural study of tri- and dinuclear palladium complexes of 2,6-bis(diphenylphosphino)pyridine

The bridging ligand 2,6-bis(diphenylphosphino)pyridine, L, was used to synthesize two palladium complexes: Pd3Cl6(μ-L)3 has a C2 axis passing through an 18-membered macrocyclic ring, in which two cis- and one trans-coordinated palladium(II) atoms are alternately bridged by three L ligands; [Pd2(μ-L)2]2+ exhibits a rare coordination mode in which two metal–metal bonded palladium(I) atoms (Pd–Pd = 2.5525(7) Å) are each P, N-chelated by one ligand and connected to the bridging phosphorus atom of the other ligand.