Complexation of N-heterocyclic silylenes to Pd(0):: formation of highly labile homoleptic complexes Pd[Si(tBuNCH2CH2NtBu)]4 and Pd[Si(tBuNCHCHNtBu)]3

The reaction of N-heterocyclic silylenes (NHS) 1 and 2 with Pd complexes, notably [(tert-butyl)(3)P](2)Pd(0) and (COD)Pd(CH3)(2), is described. The formation of homoleptic NHS complexes Pd[Si((BuNCH2CH2NBu)-Bu-t-Bu-t)](4) and Pd[Si((BuNCHCHNBu)-Bu-t)](3) is reported. The rearrangement of these complexes into dinuclear silylene-bridged compounds and the solid state structures of the latter complexes are discussed. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.