Transition metal-induced dehydrogenative coupling of zinc hydrides

Abstract

The reaction of terminal zinc hydrides with palladium(0) species afforded an unprecedented [η²-Zn₂Pd] trimetallic complex through the reductive elimination of H₂. In contrast, the reaction of zinc hydrides with a nickel(0) reagent gave σ-Zn–H coordination complexes with no direct Zn–Zn bonding. Computational studies indicated that an oxidative addition/reductive elimination process at the palladium center might be responsible for the formation of a covalent Zn–Zn bond.