Bis[N-(2,6-di-t-butyl-1-hydroxyphenyl)salicylideneaminato]palladium(II) complexes and their radical intermediates generated by PbO2 and PPh3

New bis[N-(2,6-di-t-butyl-1-hydroxyphenyl)salicylideneminato]palladium(II) [Pd(Lx)2] complexes bearing HO and MeO substituents on the salicyaldehyde moiety were prepared, and their spectroscopic properties, as well as redox reactivity towards PbO2 and PPh3, examined by e.s.r. and u.v. spectroscopy. The complexes display charge-transfer bands in the 670–692 nm range in polar solvents, which are assigned to the d(Pd) → π* (chelated quinoid) transition. One-electron oxidation of Pd(Lx)2 produces PdII-stabilized radicals in which the unpaired electrons are localized on the phenoxy fragments and do not couple with the two radical centers. The complexes are easily reduced with PPh3via intramolecular electron-transfer from ligand to metal to give various radical intermediates and Pd. All detected radical species have been characterized by e.s.r. spectroscopy.