Electrochemical reduction properties of A-frame compounds and crystal structure of Pd2(dppm)2(Me)2(Br)+ dimer

Abstract Two series of A-frame complexes, [Pd2(dppm)2(R)2(μ-X)]+ (R = Me and X = Cl, Br, I, H; R = Mes and X = Br, I), were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The 2-electron reduction potentials for the first series increase from I (−1.10), Br (−1.17), Cl (−1.25) to H (−1.65 V versus SCE, in CHCl3), as well as in the second series; Br (−1.35) and I (−1.38 V versus SCE, in THF). The nature of the LUMO where the electron reduction takes place is qualitatively addressed by DFT on the corresponding model complexes [Pd2(H2PCH2PH2)2(R)2(μ-X)]+. The LUMO and (LUMO + 1) of the halide derivatives exhibit the presence of Pd d x 2 - y 2 atomic orbitals interacting in an anti-bonding fashion with…