A series of [Pd(diphosphine)
2](BF
4)
2 and Pd(diphosphine)
2 complexes have been prepared for
which the natural bite angle of the diphosphine ligand varies from 78
to 111
. Structural studies havebeen completed for 7 of the 10 ne
w complexes described. These structural studies indicate that the dihedralangle bet
ween the t
wo planes formed by the t
wo phosphorus atoms of the diphosphine ligands and palladiumincreases by over 50
as the natural bite angle increases for the [Pd(diphosphine)
2](BF
4)
2 complexes. Thedihedral angle for the Pd(diphosphine)
2 complexes varies less than 10
for the same range of natural biteangles. Equilibrium reactions of the Pd(diphosphine)
2 complexes
with protonated bases to form thecorresponding [HPd(diphosphine)
2]
+ complexes
were used to determine the p
Ka values of the correspondinghydrides. Cyclic voltammetry studies of the [Pd(diphosphine)
2](BF
4)
2 complexes
were used to determinethe half-
wave potentials of the Pd(II/I) and Pd(I/0) couples. Thermochemical cycles, half-
wave potentials,and measured p
Ka values
were used to determine both the homolytic ([HPd(diphosphine)
2]
+ [Pd(diphosphine)
2]
+ + H
) and the heterolytic ([HPd(diphosphine)
2]
+ [Pd(diphosphine)
2]
2+ + H
-) bond-dissociationfree energies,
and
, respectively. Linear free-energy relationships are observed bet
ween p
Kaand the Pd(I/0) couple and bet
ween
and the Pd(II/I) couple. The measured values for
were all57 kcal/mol,
whereas the values of
ranged from 43 kcal/mol for [HPd(depe)
2]
+ (
where depe is bis(diethylphosphino)ethane) to 70 kcal/mol for [HPd(EtXantphos)
2]
+ (
where EtXantphos is 9,9-dimethyl-4,5-bis(diethylphosphino)xanthene). It is estimated that the natural bite angle of the ligand contributesapproximately 20 kcal/mol to the observed difference of 27 kcal/mol for
.