Metal complexes of N-allylaniline. A palladium(II) complex with co-ordination number of greater than four

Abstract

N-Allylaniline (aa) can act as a uni- or bi-dentate ligand in complexes of composition [PdCl₂(aa)₂] affording an orange-yellow (1) and a dark red isomer (2). The palladium in (1) is four-co-ordinate and planar, with the olefin group unbound in benzene and dimethyl sulphoxide (dmso) solution. The olefin groups in (2) are bound to the palladium, which, in solution (NN-dimethylformamide, dmso, or acetone), is at least five-co-ordinate. Both complexes lose methylacetylene and allene to form trans-[PdCl₂(NPhH₂)₂] on standing in the solid state orinsolution. Isomer (1) requires elevated temperatures and long reaction times, but (2) decomposes readily at room temperature.