Dinuclear Palladium Complexes—Precursors or Catalysts?

Abstract
Calculations help: Recent work from Schoenebeck's group has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that the dimeric LPdIBr catalysts that are widely used in coupling chemistry operate through prior formal reduction to an LPd0 species. Conversely, L2Pd0 catalysts can be activated by oxidation. In other cases a binuclear species can persist through the catalytic cycle.