Palladium(II) Aryloxides of Pd(2,6-(CH2NMe2)2C6H3)(OC6H4-X-p) (X = Me, NO2): Synthesis, Property and Reactivity towards Diphenyliodium Chloride

para-Substituted phenoxide derivatives of Pd(II) having an NCN pincer, Pd(NCN)($OC_6H_4$-p-X) (NCN = 2,6-$(CH_2NMe_2)_2C_6H_3$; X = $NO_2$ (1), Me (2)) were prepared by the reaction of Pd(NCN)($OSO_2CF_3$) with equi-molar amount of $NaOC_6H_4$-p-X. Treatment of Pd(NCN)($OSO_2CF_3$) with an excess amount of $NaOC_6H_4$-p-Me affords the hydrogen-bonding adduct complex 3 ($2{\cdot}HOC_6H_4$-p-Me). Complex 3 can also be obtained from benzene solution of 2 in the presence of free $HOC_6H_4$-p-Me. Complex 1 does not undergo adduct formation with $HOC_6H_4-p-NO_2$ neither from metathesis reaction of Pd(NCN)($OSO_2CF_3$) with an excess amount of $NaOC_6H_4-p-NO_2$ nor from treatment of 1 with free $HOC_6H_4-p-NO_2$. Complex 3 undergoes fast exchange of the coordinated p-cresolate with the hydrogen-bonding p-cresol. Complex 2 undergoes ${\sigma}$-ligand exchange reaction with $HOC_6H_4-p-NO_2$ to give 1. The exchange reaction, however, is irreversible as readily anticipated from their respective $pK_a$ values of the phenol derivatives. Reaction of 2 with diphenyliodium chloride quantitatively produced Pd(NCN)Cl and PhI along with liberation of O-phenylated product $PhOC_6H_4$-p-Me which was identified by GC/MS spectroscopy.