Carbon-Silicon Bond Activation by [Pd(ItBu)(2)] - the Molecular Structures of [Pd(Me3Si)(ItBu)(mu-I)](2) and [Pd(CH(2)ItBu)I-2]

The reaction of Me3SiCH2I with [Pd(ItBu)(2)] (ItBu = 1,3-di-tert-butyl-imidazol-2-ylidene) results, not in simple oxidative addition, but in carbon-silicon bond activation and formation of [Pd(Me3Si)(ItBu)(mu-I)](2) (2) and [Pd(CH(2)ItBu)I-2] (3). The zwitterionic nature of the latter has been confirmed by DFT studies, and a possible mechanism for the formation of these two unexpected products is presented. Complex 2 has also been synthesised independently by the direct oxidative addition of Me3SiI to [Pd(ItBu)(2)].