Preparation and Characterization of Nickel(II), Palladium(II), and Platinum(II) Complexes Containing (2-Aminoethyl)dimethylphosphine or the Related Didentate Phosphine Ligands

Here are described several new nickel(II), palladium(II), and platinum(II) complexes of bis(chelate)-type with didentate phosphine ligands having an amino or thioether donor group: Me2PCH2CH2NH2 (edmp), Ph2PCH2CH2NH2 (edpp), Me2PCH2CH2NMe2 (dmedmp), or Me2PCH2CH2SMe (mtdmp). Bis(tetrafluoroborate) salts of [M(P–N or S)2]2+ (M = Ni, Pd, and Pt; (P–N or S) = the ligands above) have been prepared and the geometrical structures determined by NMR spectroscopy. All the palladium(II) complexes prepared in this study are cis-isomers, in contrast to the analogous Me2PCH2CH2S− (dmsp) complex (trans-[Pd(dmsp)2]), which indicates that the anionic phosphine-thiolate ligand prefers the trans geometry more than the neutral phosphine-amine or -thioether ligand does. The dichloride salts of the bis(edmp) complexes, cis-[M(edmp)2]Cl2 (M = Ni (4a), Pd(5a), and Pt(6a)), and those of the bis(edpp) complexes have been obtained as crystals, while the corresponding salts of dmedmp, mtdmp, and 8-(dimethylphosphino)quinoline complexes can not be isolated due to their oily properties. Further, addition of LiBF4 to a methanolic solution of 4a, 5a, or 6a gives exclusively a precipitate of the chloride tetrafluoroborate salt, cis-[M(edmp)2]Cl(BF4) (M = Ni (4c), Pd(5c), or Pt(6c)). The crystal structures of 4a, 5c, and 6a determined by X-ray analyses indicate a weak (not strong enough to form a five-coordinated complex) interaction between cis-[M(edmp)2]2+ and Cl− anion. The average M–N bond lengths in 4a, 5c, and 6a are considerably longer than those in the corresponding 1,2-ethanediamine complexes, owing to the strong trans influence of the –PMe2 group in edmp. The order of strength of the trans influence among NiII, PdII, and PtII triad metal series is non-periodical: NiII < PtII < PdII. This order is similar to the order among CoIII, RhIII, and IrIII triad metal series found in our previous study on fac-[M′(edmp)3]3+ (M′ = CoIII, RhIII, and IrIII) complexes.