Bimolecular fusion of [Pd3(μ-CN-C6H3Me2-2,6)3(CN-C6H3Me2-2,6)3] induced by Ph2GeH2: formation of the redox-active Pd6Ge2 complex

The reaction of Ph2GeH2 with a planar tripalladium(0) complex, [Pd3(μ-CN-C6H3Me2-2,6)3(CN-C6H3Me2-2,6)3], selectively afforded a hexagonal bipyramidal Pd6Ge2 complex, [Pd6(μ-GePh2)2(CN-C6H3Me2-2,6)8(μ-CN-C6H3Me2-2,6)2]. The molecule is stabilized by bridging coordination of 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.