page_title: Palladium(II) chloride
section_title: Reactions
hierarchical_section_title: Palladium(II) chloride / Reactions
caption_attribution_description: English: Tetrachloropalladate ions in aqueous solution
context_page_description: Palladium(II) chloride, also known as palladium dichloride and palladous chloride, are the chemical compounds with the formula PdCl₂. PdCl₂ is a common starting material in palladium chemistry – palladium-based catalysts are of particular value in organic synthesis. It is prepared by the reaction of chlorine with palladium metal at high temperatures.
context_section_description: Palladium(II) chloride is a common starting point in the synthesis of other palladium compounds. It is not particularly soluble in water or non-coordinating solvents, so the first step in its utilization is often the preparation of labile but soluble Lewis base adducts, such as bis(benzonitrile)palladium dichloride and bis(acetonitrile)palladium dichloride. These complexes are prepared by treating PdCl₂ with hot solutions of the nitriles:
  PdCl₂ + 2 RCN  → PdCl₂(RCN)₂
  Although occasionally recommended, inert-gas techniques are not necessary if the complex is to be used in situ. As an example, bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) dichloride may be prepared from palladium(II) chloride by reacting it with triphenylphosphine in benzonitrile:
  PdCl₂ + 2 PPh₃ → PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂
  Further reduction in the presence of more triphenylphosphine gives tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0); the second reaction may be carried out without purifying the intermediate dichloride:
  PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂  +  2 PPh₃  +  2.5 N₂H₄  →  Pd(PPh₃)₄  +  0.5 N₂  +  2 N₂H₅⁺Cl⁻
  Alternatively, palladium(II) chloride may be solubilized in the form of the tetrachloropalladate anion, e.g. sodium tetrachloropalladate, by reacting with the appropriate alkali metal chloride in water: Palladium(II) chloride is insoluble in water, whereas the product dissolves:
  PdCl₂ + 2 MCl → M₂PdCl₄
  This compound may also further react with phosphines to give phosphine complexes of palladium.
  Palladium chloride may also be used to give heterogeneous palladium catalysts: palladium on barium sulfate, palladium on carbon, and palladium chloride on carbon.
caption: A solution of [PdCl4]2−(aq)
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