Palladium(II) acetate

Basic Information of Palladium(II) Acetate

CAS No.	3375-31-3
EC No.	222-164-4
Chemical Formula	C4H6O4Pd (monomeric); often trimeric in solid state
Molecular Weight	224.50 g/mol (monomer basis)
Appearance	Reddish-brown to brown crystalline powder
Odor	Slight acetic acid-like
Melting point	205–224 °C (decomposes)
Boiling point	Not applicable (decomposes)
Density	approx. 2.19 g/cm³
Solubility	Insoluble in water; soluble in acetic acid, benzene, toluene, acetone, chloroform
Nature (hazards)	Skin sensitizer, causes serious eye damage, very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects
RIDADR	UN 3077, Environmentally hazardous substance, solid, n.o.s. (Palladium(II) acetate), Class 9, Packing Group III
Chemical Structure

Primary Applications of Palladium(II) Acetate

Palladium(II) Acetate is a cornerstone precatalyst, readily reduced in situ to catalytically active Pd(0) species or functioning directly as Pd(II) in numerous high-impact palladium-catalyzed reactions. Owing to its excellent solubility in organic solvents and reliable reduction profile, it is widely regarded as one of the most versatile entry points into homogeneous palladium catalysis. Its role spans laboratory-scale method development to industrial process chemistry, particularly in systems described under cross-coupling catalytic applications.

1. Cross-Coupling Reactions
   Serves as the preferred Pd source for Suzuki-Miyaura, Heck, Sonogashira, Negishi, and Stille couplings, enabling efficient C–C bond formation in pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates. Under ligand-controlled conditions, Pd(OAc)₂ generates active Pd(0) species capable of oxidative addition into aryl halides, followed by transmetalation and reductive elimination. Its predictable activation behavior makes it particularly suitable for scalable synthesis and complex substrate matrices.

2. C–H Activation & Functionalization
   Facilitates direct arylation, acetoxylation, olefination, and amidation of C–H bonds, providing atom-economical routes to complex molecules with reduced synthetic steps. In directed C–H activation, Pd(OAc)₂ commonly forms cyclopalladated intermediates, enabling regioselective functionalization that streamlines synthetic pathways and reduces pre-functionalization requirements.

3. Buchwald-Hartwig Amination & Etherification
   Enables high-yielding C–N and C–O bond formation under mild conditions, critical for accessing nitrogen- and oxygen-containing pharmacophores in drug discovery. When combined with electron-rich phosphine ligands, Palladium(II) Acetate provides efficient catalyst systems for the construction of aryl amines and ethers with broad functional group tolerance.

4. Pharmaceutical API Synthesis
   Widely employed in multi-kilogram-scale production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, offering excellent selectivity, functional group compatibility, and process robustness. Its well-characterized behavior under GMP-relevant conditions supports reproducibility and impurity control in regulated environments. Broader perspectives on palladium chemistry in regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing can be found in Palladium Compounds: Applications, Categories & Industrial Uses.

5. Carbonylation & CO-Insertion Reactions
   Catalyzes carbonylative couplings, esterifications, and amidations, providing efficient access to carboxylic acid derivatives and heterocycles in fine chemical synthesis. In these systems, Pd(OAc)₂ participates in migratory insertion steps under CO atmosphere, forming acyl-palladium intermediates that expand molecular complexity in a single catalytic sequence.

6. Catalyst Development & Mechanistic Studies
   Acts as a standard Pd(II) precursor for ligand screening, mechanistic investigations, and development of novel palladium catalytic systems in academic and industrial R&D. Due to its reproducible reduction kinetics and coordination flexibility, it remains a benchmark compound in comparative catalyst performance studies and structure–activity relationship evaluations.

• Superior Purity & Batch Consistency
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  Experienced catalysis team provides reaction optimization, ligand synergy advice, scale-up guidance, and troubleshooting for maximum process efficiency.

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• Sustainability Commitment
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Hazards Classification

• GHS Classification: Skin Sensitization (Category 1); Serious Eye Damage (Category 1); Aquatic Acute (Category 1); Aquatic Chronic (Category 1)

• Hazard Statements: H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction; H318: Causes serious eye damage; H410: Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

• UN Number: UN 3077

• Hazard Class: 9 (Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles)

• Packing Group: III