Palladium complexes with Pd→B dative bonds: Analysis of the bonding in the palladaboratrane compound [κ 4 -B(mim But ) 3 ]Pd(PMe 3 )

The dinuclear complex {[mu-kappa(1),kappa(3)-B(mim(Bu(t)))(3)]Pd}(2), which features a Pd-->B dative bond, may be obtained by the reaction of [Tm(Bu(t))]K with Pd(OAc)(2); treatment of {[mu-kappa(1),kappa(3)-B(mim(Bu(t)))(3)]Pd}(2) with PMe(3) affords the mononuclear boratrane derivative [kappa(4)-B(mim(Bu(t)))(3)]Pd(PMe(3)), for which a molecular orbital analysis indicates that the palladium center possesses a d(8) configuration.