Cyclometallation of amino-imines on palladium complexes. The effect of the solvent on the experimental and calculated mechanism.

The ortho-metallation reaction of chloro and acetato complexes of palladium(ii) having 5- and 6-membered kappa(2)-(N(amino),N(imino)) chelate ligands, [Pd(Me(2)NCH(2)(CH(2))(n)NCH(4-ClC(6)H(4)))(X)(2)] (X = AcO, Cl; n = 1, 2), in methanol solution has been carried out. The results are a good indicator of the distinct nature of the transition state involved in the processes where acetic acid has been used as a solvent. The presence of Brønsted bases, contrary to what has been reported for Pt(II) analogue compounds, does not affect this process, which indicates the "coordinated" nature of the leaving [H(+)] species.