Insertion reactions of SO 2 into Pd–OR bonds: preparation of alkyl sulfito complexes of palladium( ii )

Mononuclear palladium-hydroxo complexes of the type [Pd(N-N)(C6F5)(OH)][(N-N = 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy), 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Me2bipy), or N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda) react with SO2(1 atm) at room temperature in alcohol (methanol, ethanol, propanol or isopropanol) to yield alkyl sulfito palladium complexes [Pd(N-N)(C6F5)(SO2OR)](R = Me, Et, Pr or iPr). Similar alkyl sulfito complexes [Pd(N-N)(C6F5)(SO2OR)](N-N = bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane); R = Me or Et) are obtained when [Pd(N-N)(C6F5)Cl] is treated with KOH in the corresponding alcohol ROH and SO2 is bubbled through the solution. The reaction of [Pd(bipy)(C6F5)(OH)] with SO2 in tetrahydrofuran gives [Pd(N-N)(C6F5)(SO2OH)]. The X-ray diffraction study of [Pd(tmeda)(C6F5)(SO2OPr)] has established the sulfur coordination of the propyl sulfito ligand.