Pd- η³-C₆H₉ complexes of the Trost modular ligand: high nuclearity columnar aggregation controlled by concentration, solvent and counterion

Under optimised conditions, the Trost modular ligand (TML) series induces high levels of asymmetric induction in an extraordinarily wide range of reactions involving palladium π-allyl intermediates. Prior mechanistic investigations into reactions involving  Pd-η³-C₆H₉ intermediates have focussed on the monomeric 13-membered ring formed via P,P-chelation of the ligand to Pd. However, it is also recognised that ring-opening oligomerisation provides a pool of high nuclearity  Pd-η³-C₆H₉ species that, by affording a low level, or even the opposite sense, of asymmetric induction relative to the mononuclear species, are responsible for a reduction in selectivity under non-optimised conditions. Herein we describe an investigation by NMR spectroscopy, molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics, and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), of a  Pd-η³-C₆H₉ cation bearing the 1,2-diaminocyclohexane TML ligand (2). Using both nondeuterated and perdeuterated (D₄₇₎ isotopologues of the resulting complexes, we show that a two-stage oligomerisation-aggregation process forms self assembled cylindrical aggregates of very high nuclearity (up to 56 Pd centres). We also investigate how concentration, solvent and counter-anion all modulate the extent of oligomerisation.