Synthesis and characterization of palladium(II) complexes with a novel chelating iminocarbene ligand

The reaction between 1-chloro-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)propane and N-methylimidazole yields 3-methyl-1-{2-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino) propyl}imidazolium] chloride, (C–N)·HCl (2). A silver(I) iminocarbene complex formulated as (C–N)2Ag+AgCl2– is formed in the reaction between 2 and Ag2O. Carbene transfer to Pd occurs when 2 is treated with (COD)Pd(Cl)(X) to yield (C–N)Pd(Cl)(X)(4a, X = Cl; 4b, X = CH3). Chloride abstraction from 4a and 4b with AgPF6 in MeCN yields (C–N)Pd(NCMe)(X)+PF6–(5a and 5b). A second chloride abstraction can be done with 5a to yield (C–N)Pd(NCMe)22+(PF6–)2(6). An X-ray structure determination of 4a verifies the chelating nature of the iminocarbene ligand system and shows that the molecule adopts a boat conformation with Pd and the CH2 link between the carbene and the imine occupying the two apical positions. The species 4–6 have been subjected to extensive analysis by variable-temperature, EXSY, and NOESY NMR spectroscopy in various solvents. In the weakly coordinating solvent nitromethane, 4a and 4b exist as square planar species in which the iminocarbene acts as a C,N-chelating ligand. NMR experiments reveal a dynamic behavior of 4a that involves a boat "flip". This process is fast even at –40 °C for 4b but considerably slower for 4a. In more coordinating solvents, evidence is seen for solvent-dependent equilibra that involve rapid interconversion between the chelating K2(C,N) structures (K2-(C–N))Pd(Cl)(X) and non-chelating K1(C) iminocarbene structures (K1-(C–N))Pd(Cl)(X)(Solvent). Complex 5a exists as two interconverting species, possibly cis/trans isomers by interchange of the MeCN and Cl ligands, whereas no evidence for dynamic processes is seen for 5b and 6.