Dimeric palladium and platinum complexes isolated in Lewis-acidic media

The synthesis and X-ray characterization of binuclear dipalladium(I) and diplatinum(I) p-xylene complexes [Pd2(η6-C8H10)2(μ-Cl/Br)2(GaCl3)2] (1) and [Pt2(η6-C8H10)2(Ga2Br7)2] (5) are reported. It was established that the toluene ligands in the palladium complex [Pd2(η6-C7H8)2(GaCl4)2] (3) can be substituted by naphthalene without disruption of the metal–metal bond. The reaction of 3 with Pd(PPh3)4 leads to the formation of a dipalladium(II) μ-diphenylphosphido compound [Pd2(μ-PPh2)(PPh3)4] (GaCl4)2 · 4(C7H8) (4), most likely also involving a bridging μ-H− ligand.