Insertion of Molecular Oxygen into the Metal-Methyl Bonds of Platinum(II) and Palladium(II) 1,3-Bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindolate Complexes

Upon exposure of [(BPI)M(CH3)] (M = Pd, Pt, BPI = 1,3-bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindole) complexes to O-2, direct insertion was observed to generate the O-2 insertion products (BPI)M(OOCH3). Kinetic and mechanistic analyses of the O-2 insertion reaction support a radical chain substitution mechanism. Reproducible kinetics were observed in the presence of a radical initiator. The release of methanol was subsequently observed from the M-OOCH3 products.