We recently reported that the (PNP)Pd-Pd(PNP) dimer reacts with dihydrogen, water, and ammonia under mild conditions to effect addition of the H-X bond across the Pd-Pd bond.¹ Investigations of the reactivity of the dimer with other small molecules is currently underway. Reaction with molecular oxygen produces a rare superoxo complex of palladium. Remarkably, the reaction with molecular oxygen proceeds only under exposure to light. Our presentation will describe the new reactions of the dimeric Pd complexes, as well as report improvements to the synthesis of the PNP ligands.

(1) (Fafard, C. M.; Adhikari, D.; Foxman, B. M.; Mindiola, D. J.; Ozerov, O. V. "Addition of Ammonia, Water, and Dihydrogen Across a Single Pd-Pd Bond", J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 10318.)