Insertion of Molecular Oxygen into the Metal–Methyl Bonds of Platinum(II) and Palladium(II) 1,3-Bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindolate Complexes

Upon exposure of [(BPI)­M­(CH3)] (M = Pd, Pt, BPI = 1,3-bis­(2-pyridylimino)­isoindole) complexes to O2, direct insertion was observed to generate the O2 insertion products (BPI)­M­(OOCH3). Kinetic and mechanistic analyses of the O2 insertion reaction support a radical chain substitution mechanism. Reproducible kinetics were observed in the presence of a radical initiator. The release of methanol was subsequently observed from the M–OOCH3 products