Azobenzene palladium(II) complexes with β-diketones

Abstract

A procedure has been developed for the synthesis of cyclometalated azobenzene palladium(II) complexes [Pd(O^O)Azb], where Azb^– is deprotonated azobenzene and (O^O)^– is deprotonated β-diketone (acetylacetone, thenoyltrifluoroacetone, benzoylacetone, or dibenzoylmethane). Electronic absorption spectra and electrochemical behavior of the synthesized complexes have been studied. It has been found that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the complexes is contributed most by the π* orbital of azobenzene, and the highest occupied molecular orbital, by the palladium d orbital.