The synthesis, electrochemistry, and structural characterization of the mononuclear
complex [Pd{C6H4N(H)NC(CH3)C5H4N}(p-tolN−NNp-tol)] (1) containing the monodentate
1,3-di-p-tolyltriazenido ligand is described. Compound 1 is an example of a stable species
containing a Pd−N amido bond cis to a Pd−C aryl bond. Kinetic parameters for the dynamic
intramolecular N(1)−N(3) exchange of the monodentate ligand in complex 1 have been
calculated. The cis and trans isomers of the orthometalated face-to-face complex [{Pd(C6H4NNC6H5)(μ-p-tolNNNp-tol)}2] (2) have also been prepared, and the crystal structure of the
trans isomer is reported. There are noticeable differences in the electrochemical behavior of
the mononuclear and binuclear species. From the electrochemical experiments on both
isomers of 2 it is possible to recognize different redox sites, to calculate the electronic coupling
between them, and to suggest where the reversible electron transfers occur. Each isomers
of 2 undergoes two one-electron oxidations and two one-electron reductions. The electronic
coupling (ΔE = 0.40 V) at oxidizing potentials is identical for both isomers of complex 2,
suggesting that the oxidations occur on the Pd(μ-triazenido)2Pd framework which is common
to both isomers. By contrast, the electronic coupling at reducing potentials is greater for
cis-2 (ΔE = 0.33 V) than for trans-2 (ΔE = 0.25 V), suggesting that the reduction processes
occur on the orthopalladated fragments, which are arranged differently on the two isomers.
Thus, electronic communication between two equivalent redox centers in the same molecule
depends not only on the nature of the bridging ligand but also on the geometrical arrangement
of the redox centers.