Interconversion between cyclodimer and cyclotrimer: Synthesis and characterization of cyclo-[Pd(II)Cl₂(N-N)] complexes

The reaction of (COD)PdCl₂ (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) with (3-Py)₂SiR₁R₂ (3-Py = 3-pyridyl; R₁ = Ph, R₂ = Ph (m-pdps); R₁ = Ph, R₂ = Me (m-pmps)) in acetone affords single crystals consisting of cyclodimers, [PdCl₂((3-Py)₂SiR₁R₂)]₂, whereas the same reaction in a mixture of dichloromethane and ethanol yields amorphous spheres consisting of cyclotrimers, [PdCl₂((3-Py)₂SiR₁R₂)]₃. In a boiling chloroform solution, the cyclodimers are completely converted to cyclotrimers. These cyclotrimers, in the 10-60 °C range, are partly returned to cyclodimers. By contrast, the reaction of (COD)PdCl₂ with (3-Py)₂SiR₁R₂ (R₁ = Bu, R₂ = Me (m-pbms); R₁ = dodecyl, R₂ = Me (m-pddms)) yields amorphous spheres consisting of cyclotrimers irrespective of solvents. Both [PdCl₂(m-pbms)]₃ and [PdCl₂(m-pddms)]₃ are initially cyclotrimers in chloroform, but they exist as a mixture of cyclodimers and cyclotrimers in solution in the 10-60 °C range. The metallacycles tend to form cyclodimers in the order m-pdps > m-pmps > m-pbms > m-pddms. The equilibrium between cyclodimers and the cyclotrimers is sensitive to solvent, temperature, and concentration as well as molecular structure.