Reduction chemistry of hydrido(triethylphosphine) complexes of platinum(II) or palladium(II) and aqueous chemistry of tris(triethylphosphine)palladium(0)

Abstract

Sodium or magnesium amalgam reductions of tetrahydrofuran solutions of [MH(PEt₃)₃][BPh₄](M = Pt or Pd), o^r of toluene solutions of [PtH(Cl)(PEt₃)₂] in the presence of an excess of PEt₃, produce hydrogen and [Pt(PEt₃)₃] or Pd metal. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed and [Ru(bipy)₃]^2+*(bipy = 2,2′-bipyridyl) is shown not to reduce [PdH(PEt₃)₃]⁺ in aqueous solution. The compound [Pd(PEt₃)₃] dissolves in buffered or acidic water to produce [PdH(PEt₃)₃]⁺ although it is less nucleophilic than [Pt(PEt₃)₃]. In the presence of chloride ion at low pH, [PdH(Cl)(PEt₃)₂] is formed in high yield.