Bimolecular Fusion of [Pd3(μ-CNC6H3Me2-2,6)3(CNC6H3Me2-2,6)3] Induced by Ph2GeH2: Formation of Redox-Active Pd6Ge2 Complex

Reaction of Ph2GeH2 with a planar tripalladium(0) complex, [Pd3(μ-CNC6H3Me2-2,6)3(CNC6H3Me2-2,6)3], selectively afforded a hexagonal bipyramidal Pd6Ge2 complex, [Pd6(μ-GePh2)2(CN-C6H3Me2-2,6)8(μ-CN-C6H3Me2-2,6)3]. The molecule is stabilized by bridging coordination of the isonitrile and GePh2 ligands, although all the Pd-Pd bonds are weak, as revealed by DFT calculations. The resulting complex undergoes two successive redox processes at E1/2 = -1.35 and -1.03 V (vs Fc+/Fc), which correspond to the stepwise oxidation of the Pd(0)6 complex.