Bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium chloride

Bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium chloride is a coordination compound of palladium containing two triphenylphosphine and two chloride ligands. It is a yellow solid that is soluble in some organic solvents. It is used for palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions, e.g. the Sonogashira–Hagihara reaction. The complex is square planar. Both cis and trans isomers are known. Many analogous complexes are known with different phosphine ligands.

Commercially available, this compound may be prepared by reacting palladium(II) chloride with triphenylphosphine:

PdCl₂ + 2 PPh₃ → PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂

The complex is an intermediate in the preparation of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (Pd(PPh₃)₄):

PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ + 2 PPh₃ + 2.5 N₂H₄ → Pd(PPh₃)₄ + 0.5 N₂ + 2 N₂H₅⁺Cl⁻