Pre-catalyst resting states: a kinetic, thermodynamic and quantum mechanical analyses of [PdCl2(2-oxazoline)2] complexes.

The treatment of cold ( approximately 3 degrees C) methanolic solutions of Li(2)PdCl(4) with two equivalents of 2-phenyl-2-oxazoline (Phox) results in the isolation of [PdCl(2)(Phox)(2)] (3). This complex undergoes remarkably slow isomerisation (CHCl(3)-d) at room temperature to a corresponding thermodynamic form. In addition to a theoretical treatment (DFT), the isomerisation behaviour has been analysed both kinetically and thermodynamically. These investigations lead to the conclusion that the initially formed (i.e. kinetic) isomer of 3 is the cis-form which undergoes conversion to the corresponding thermodynamic trans-form via a dissociative (D) mechanism involving loss of a Phox ligand. The activation parameters DeltaS(double dagger) and DeltaH(double dagger) are found to be +304 (+/-3) J K(-1) mol(-1) and +176 (+/-1) kJ mol(-1), respectively and indicate a high barrier to Pd-N bond cleavage under these conditions. The thermodynamic parameters show the expected endothermic nature of this process (+140 +/- 17 kJ mol(-1)) and a slight positive overall entropy (DeltaS degrees = +17 +/- 2 J K(-1) mol(-1)); this latter parameter is presumably due to the formation of the lower dipole moment trans-product when compared to the cis-isomer. Calculated (DFT) values of DeltaG(double dagger) and DeltaH(double dagger) are in excellent agreement to those found experimentally. Further theoretical investigation suggests that two 14-electron three-coordinate T-shaped transition states (i.e., [PdCl(2)(Phox)](double dagger)) are involved; the form pre-disposed to yield the thermodynamic trans-product following re-attachment of the released oxazoline is found to be energetically favoured. The analogous alkyloxazoline system [PdCl(2)(Meox)(2)] (4: Meox = 2-methyl-2-oxazoline) has likewise been investigated. This material gives no indication of cis-trans isomerisation behaviour in solution (NMR) and is shown to exist (X-ray) in the trans-form in the solid-state (as do previously reported crystalline samples of 3). A DFT study of 4 reveals similar values of DeltaS(double dagger) and DeltaH(double dagger) if a D type mechanism were operating to rapidly convert cis- to trans-4. However, a significantly higher thermodynamic stability of the trans-isomer relative to the cis-form is revealed versus similar calculations of the Phox derivative 3. This suggests the possibility that (i) reactions of Meox with Li(2)PdCl(4) may lead directly to the trans-form of [PdCl(2)(Meox)(2)] or alternatively (ii) that alkyloxazoline complexes such as 4 may have a different, and presumably much more rapid, mechanism for isomerisation. The results are placed into the context that isomerisation behaviour, or lack thereof, could play a key preliminary role in later substrate modification. This is due to the fact that [PdX(2)(oxazoline)(2)] compounds are well-known (pre-)catalysts for C-C bond forming chemistry.