Synthesis and solid state characterisation of mononuclear 2-benzoylpyridine N-methyl-N-phenylhydrazone palladium(II) complexes.

2-Benzoylpyridine N-methyl-N-phenylhydrazone, HL, is a versatile ligand which reacts with [Pd(PhCN)2Cl2] forming the coordination compound [HLPdCl2], 1, characterized by the presence of the N(py)/N(im) chelate ring. When HL reacts with [Pd3(OAc)6] this gives rise to the orthometallated complex [LPd(OAc)],. In this case the Pd(II) environment consists of a N(py)/N(im) ring fused to the N(im)/C palladacycle and a monodentate acetate anion. Complex undergoes methatetical reactions with alkaline halides and complexes of general formula [LPdX](3: X = Cl; 4: X = Br; 5: X = I) are obtained. The molecular structures 3-5 of determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis proved the formation in all cases of mononuclear Pd(II) complexes containing a N(py)/N(im)/C terdentate ligand. As solid samples only compounds 3-5 exhibited luminescence at room temperature (lambdamax approximately 610 nm). This property, quite unusual in Pd(II) complexes, is discussed in terms of pi-pi] interactions, which are mainly responsible for the existence in the crystalline solid state of dimeric units.