Dalton communications. Synthesis and structural characterisation of [Pd43-CH)(µ-Cl)3(PBut3)4]: a tetrahedral palladium cluster with a µ3-methylidyne ligand

Abstract
The compound [Pd43-CH)(µ-Cl)3(PBut 3)4] has been synthesised from [Pd2(dba)3](dba = dibenzylideneacetone), PBut 3 and CHCl3 and characterised spectroscopically and by single-crystal X-ray analysis; it undergoes substitution reactions with Br and tertiary phosphines and is a catalyst for the polymerisation of ethyne.