Insertion of One, Two, and Three Molecules of Alkyne into the Pd−C Bond of Ortho-palladated Primary and Secondary Arylalkylamines

The ortho-metalated complex [Pd2{κ2(C,N)-C6H4CH2CH2NHMe-2}2(μ-Br)2] (1) can be prepared by refluxing a 1:1 mixture of Pd(OAc)2 and N-methylphenethylamine in acetonitrile, followed by addition of an excess of NaBr. Complex 1 reacts with PPh3 to give the mononuclear derivative [Pd{κ2(C,N)-C6H4CH2CH2NHMe-2}Br(PPh3)] (2). The cationic complex [Pd{κ2(C,N)-C6H4CH2CH2NHMe-2}(py)2]ClO4 (3) can be obtained by reacting 1 with AgClO4 and pyridine. The previously reported complex [Pd2{κ2(C,N)-C6H4CH2NHCH2Ph-2}2(μ-Br)2] (A) reacts with PhC≡CCO2R (R = Me, Et) to give the monoinserted derivatives [Pd2{κ2(C,N)-C(Ph)═C(CO2R)C6H4CH2NHCH2Ph-2}2(μ-Br)2] (R = Me (4a), Et (4b)). These dimers react with neutral l…