Structure and thermal reactivity of a novel Pd(0) metalloenediyne

We report the X-ray diffraction structure and thermal reactivity of the metalloenediyne compound bis(1,2-bis(diphenylphosphinoethynyl)benzenepalladium(0) (Pd(dppeb)(2), 1). The structure of 1 features a tetrahedral Pd(0) center with four phosphorus atoms from two chelaling ligands. The P-Pd-P bond angles nearly match the idealized 109.5 degrees geometry expected for a d(10) metal center in a tetrahedral ligand field. The tetrahedral geometry of the metal center forces the alkyne termini separation of the enediyne ligand to a distance of 3.47 Angstrom, which results in a thermally stable compound at room temperature, However, at 115 degrees C 1 exhibits solvent-dependent reactivity. In sigma-fluorotoluene, 1 decomposes via ligand dissociation, while in sigma-dichlorobenzene, carbon-halide bond activation of solvent occurs leading to the oxidative addition product trans-Pd((2-chlorophenyl)diphenylphosphine)(2)Cl-2 and free (2-chlorophenyl)diphenylphosphine. The thermal reactivity of 1 is markedly more endothermic (44 kcal/mol) than that of the known Pd(dppeb)Cl-2 analogue (12.3 kcal/mol), The diminished reactivity can be attributed to two factors: the increased alkyne termini separation in 1 (3.47 vs 3.3 Angstrom) due to the metal-mandated tetrahedral geometry of the Pd(0) center, and the resistance of the Pd(0) to adopting a planar transition state geometry to promote Bergman cyclization. Overall this study demonstrates that metal binding can impose structural consequences upon the enediyne ligand governed by the oxidation state and corresponding ligand field geometry of the metal center.