Heterobimetallic complexes have attracted
much interest due to
their broad range of structures and reactivities as well as unique
catalytic abilities. Additionally, these complexes can be utilized
as single-source precursors for the synthesis of binary intermetallic
compounds. An example is the family of bis(pyridine-2-thiolato)dichloro-germanium
and tin complexes of group 10 metals (Pd and Pt). The reactivity of
these heterobimetallic complexes is highly tunable through substitution
of the group 14 element and the neutral ligand bound to the transition
metal. Here, we study the binding energies of three different phosphorous-based
ligands, PR3 (R = Bu, Ph, and OPh) by density functional
theory and restricted Hartree–Fock methods. The PR3 ligand-binding energies follow the trend of PBu3 >
PPh3 > P(OPh)3, in agreement with their sigma-bonding
ability. These results are confirmed by ligand exchange experiments
monitored with 31P NMR spectroscopy, in which a weaker
binding PR3 ligand is replaced with a stronger one. Furthermore,
we demonstrate that the heterobimetallic complexes are active catalysts
in the Negishi coupling reaction, where stronger binding PR3 ligands inhibit access to an active site at the metal center. Similar
strategies could be applied to other complexes to better understand
their ligand-binding energetics and predict their reactivity as both
precursors and catalysts.