A new imine ligand avoiding imine–enamine rearrangement and cyclometallation: Synthesis and coordination of Me₃C₆H₂CH₂NCH^<i>t</i>Bu

The new imine ligand (E)-2,4,6- Me₃C₆H₂CH₂NCH^<i>t</i>Bu (<b>1</b>) has been prepared from 2,4,6-trimethylbenzylamine and trimethylacetaldehyde. In this imine, the <i>ortho</i>-positions of the benzyl group are blocked by methyl groups, and there are no β-hydrogen atoms susceptible for imine–enamine rearrangement. Thus, reaction with [PdCl₂ (C₆H₅CN)₂] leads to the complex <i>trans</i>-[PdCl₂ (2,4,6- Me₃C₆H₂CH₂NCH^<i>t</i>Bu)₂] (<b>2</b>) that cannot undergo cyclopalladation. The single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of <i>trans</i>-[PdCl₂ (2,4,6- Me₃C₆H₂CH₂NCH^<i>t</i>Bu)₂] (<b>2</b>) confirms the <i>trans</i>-coordination of the imine ligands in this square-planar complex.