Bis-phosphine monoxide platinum(II) and palladium(II) cationic complexes as Lewis acid catalysts in Diels-Alder and sulfoxidation reactions

A series of bis-phosphine monoxide (BPMO) palladium(II) and platinum(II) cationic complexes of the type [M(BPMO-k2-P,O)2][X]2 (M = Pd, Pt, BPMO = Ph2P-(CH2)n-P(O)Ph2 with n = 1 (dppmO), 2 (dppeO), 3 (dpppO); X = BF4, TfO) were prepared from the corresponding chlorides [MCl2(BPMO-k1-P)2] upon treatment with 2 equiv. of AgX in wet acetone/CH2Cl2 or MeOH solutions. They were characterized by 1H and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopies and, in the case of the complex [Pt(dppeO-k2-P,O)2][BF4]2, also by X-ray crystallography. These complexes were tested as catalysts in some Diels-Alder and oxidation reactions with different substrates. In the latter reaction Pt(II) complexes showed moderate activity, while for the former one, both classes of complexes were active in the C-C coupling, in particular the Pt(II) species showed interesting high endo/exo diasteroselectivity depending on the counteranion. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.