Activation of σ(C–H) bonds of [Fe{(η5-C5H4)–C(Me)N–NC(H)(C6H3–2,6-R)}2] (with R=Cl or H) promoted by palladium(II)

The synthesis, characterisation and the study of the reactivity of the novel and bifunctional ferrocenyl Schiff bases [Fe{(η5-C5H4)–C(Me)N–NC(H)(C6H3–2,6-R2)}2] (with R=Cl or H) with palladium(II) salts under different experimental conditions are reported. The treatment of Na2[PdCl4], Na(CH3COO)·3H2O and the corresponding ligand [Fe{(η5-C5H4)–C(Me)N–NC(H)(C6H3–2,6-R2)}2] (with R=Cl or H) (in a 2:2:1 molar ratio) in methanol for 6 days followed by the addition of triphenylphosphine (PPh3), and a SiO2 column chromatography, allowed the isolation of the two isomers (meso- and d,l- forms) of the heterotrimetallic complexes of general formula [Pd2{Fe[(η5-C5H3)–C(Me)N–NC(H)(C6H5–2,6-R2)]2}Cl2(PPh3)2], (with R=Cl or H).