Molecular structure of the carbon-bound phosphorus ylide complex trans-dichlorobis(benzoyltri-n-butylphosphorane)palladium(II)

The molecular structure of trans-Pd(PhC(O)CHP(n-C₄H₉)₃)₂Cl₂] has been determined via a single crystal X-ray diffraction study: triclinic,P1,a = 8.876(2),b = 10.908(3),c = 11.938(4)Å, = 97.06(2)°, β = 102.79(2)°, γ = 100.51(2)°,V= 1092.1(5)ų,Z = 1 and R(F) = 4.61%. The phosphorus ylide molecules are bound to the palladium atom through their methine carbon atoms, the overall coordination geometry about the palladium being square planar. The protons in the ortho-positions of the two phenyl group are poised above and below the palladium atom, suggesting that the complex is a precursor of the ortho-metalated complex Pd(μ-Cl)(C₆H₄C(O)CHP(n-C₄H₉)₃)]₂ synthesized earlier in our laboratory.