Photochemistry of planar four-co-ordinate palladium(II) complexes. Part 2. trans–cis Isomerization of dihalogenobis(tri-n-propylphosphine)palladium(II) in solution

Abstract

The photoisomerization of trans-dihalogenobis (tri-n-propylphosphine)palladium(II) complexes has been studied in various solvents. The quantum yields depend strongly both on the nature of the co-ordinating halide and on the excitation wavelength. The photochemical results are discussed in terms of the possible mechanisms for the trans–cis photoisomerization of square-planar complexes. Photolysis of cis-[Pd(PPrⁿ₃)₂Cl₂] yields the chloro-bridged complex, [Pd₂(PPrⁿ₃)₂Cl₄].