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Palladium catalysts

Palladium(II) chloride , CAS 7647-10-1

PdCl2MW 177.33 g/mol60% PdMade in Dublin, Ireland

Synonyms: Palladium dichloride; Palladous chloride; Palladium chloride; Dichloropalladium; PdCl2

Also known as: Palladium(II)-chlorid (German); Cloruro de paladio(II) (Spanish); Chlorure de palladium(II) (French); Cloruro di palladio(II) (Italian); Palladium(II)chloride (Dutch)

GHS05
Corrosive
GHS07
Harmful

Overview

Anhydrous palladium dichloride: the cheapest route into palladium chemistry and the precursor of most other palladium compounds and catalysts.

Palladium(II) chloride is a dark red-brown, hygroscopic solid and the most common entry point to palladium chemistry. It is the precursor to PdCl2(PPh3)2, PdCl2(dppf), PdCl2(MeCN)2, sodium and potassium tetrachloropalladate and tetraamminepalladium salts; the catalyst of the Wacker oxidation; a source for Pd/C and other supported hydrogenation catalysts; and the sensitiser used in electroless plating activation. It is also used in carbon monoxide detectors and test papers. Approximately 60% palladium by mass; each lot is assayed and released with a certificate of analysis.

Application areas

Typical applications of palladium(ii) chloride

Palladium(II) chloride is the starting material for the palladium complexes that laboratories actually use. Heating it with two equivalents of triphenylphosphine gives bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium dichloride; with 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene it gives PdCl₂(dppf); refluxing in acetonitrile or benzonitrile gives the labile PdCl₂(MeCN)₂ and PdCl₂(PhCN)₂; and dissolution in hydrochloric acid or alkali chloride solution gives tetrachloropalladic acid and the sodium or potassium tetrachloropalladates. Treatment with ammonia gives tetraamminepalladium(II) chloride, the salt used for electroless palladium plating and for ion-exchange loading of zeolites.

It is the classical catalyst of the Wacker oxidation of terminal alkenes to methyl ketones (palladium chloride with copper(II) chloride under oxygen in aqueous DMF), and the usual palladium source for preparing palladium on carbon and other supported hydrogenation catalysts by impregnation with tetrachloropalladic acid followed by reduction with formaldehyde, formate or hydrogen. In the plating industry palladium chloride with tin(II) chloride forms the colloidal activator that seeds electroless copper and nickel deposition on plastics and printed circuit boards.

Palladium chloride papers and solutions are the traditional detectors for carbon monoxide, which reduces the salt to a black palladium deposit. It is also used for palladium nanoparticle synthesis, for palladium membranes and films, and in analytical chemistry as a precipitant and as a palladium standard after dissolution in acid.

Specification

Product namePalladium(II) chloride
SynonymsPalladium dichloride; Palladous chloride; Palladium chloride; Dichloropalladium; PdCl2
Molecular formulaPdCl2
CAS number7647-10-1
Molecular weight177.33 g/mol
MetalPalladium (Pd)
Metal content60% Pd by mass (nominal; lot assay on the CoA)
Purity / grade≥99.9% (metals basis); Pd ≥ 59.5%
AppearanceDark red-brown to brown crystalline powder; hygroscopic
SolubilityPractically insoluble in cold water alone (the anhydrous solid is polymeric and dissolves only very slowly). Readily soluble in hydrochloric acid and in sodium or potassium chloride solutions as [PdCl₄]²⁻, in aqueous ammonia as the tetraammine, and in acetonitrile; sparingly soluble in acetone and ethanol.
Melting point679 °C with decomposition.
Density4.0 g/cm³
StructureChain polymer of chloride-bridged square-planar palladium (α-form), which is why dissolution needs a coordinating solvent or added chloride.
HygroscopicityHygroscopic; absorbs water to form the dihydrate.
StorageStore tightly closed in a dry place. Hygroscopic; keep away from reducing agents.
Pack sizes1 g, 5 g, 25 g, 100 g
Country of originIreland (manufactured in Dublin)

Solubility, melting point and density are literature values for the pure compound and are given for guidance; purity, palladium assay and appearance are measured on each lot and reported on its certificate of analysis.

Handling and storage

  • Harmful if swallowed (H302), causes serious eye damage (H318), skin irritation (H315) and may cause an allergic skin reaction (H317). Palladium salts are recognised skin sensitisers: wear nitrile gloves and goggles and avoid raising dust.
  • Hygroscopic: store tightly closed in a dry place and reseal promptly after use. Moisture uptake raises the apparent mass without changing the palladium content, so weigh quickly or correct to the lot assay.
  • To make a stock solution, suspend the solid in dilute hydrochloric acid (at least two equivalents of chloride per palladium) or in brine and warm; it will not dissolve in plain water.
  • Keep away from reducing agents, including alcohols and formaldehyde outside the intended reaction, which precipitate palladium black.
  • Not regulated as dangerous goods for transport: ships by standard courier.

Hazard classification (CLP / GHS)

GHS05
Corrosive
GHS07
Harmful
Signal wordDanger
Hazard statements
  • H302 Harmful if swallowed.
  • H315 Causes skin irritation.
  • H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction.
  • H318 Causes serious eye damage.
Precautionary statements
  • P264 Wash hands thoroughly after handling.
  • P270 Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
  • P301+P312 IF SWALLOWED: Call a POISON CENTRE or doctor if you feel unwell.
  • P330 Rinse mouth.
  • P280 Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection.
  • P305+P351+P338 IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
  • P310 Immediately call a POISON CENTRE or doctor.
  • P302+P352 IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of water.
  • P332+P313 If skin irritation occurs: Get medical advice/attention.
  • P261 Avoid breathing dust.
  • P272 Contaminated work clothing should not be allowed out of the workplace.
  • P333+P313 If skin irritation or rash occurs: Get medical advice/attention.
TransportNot regulated for transport. Ships by standard courier.

Classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP). The safety data sheet issued with each lot is the authoritative source; where this page and the SDS differ, follow the SDS. For research and industrial use only. Not for human, veterinary, food or cosmetic use.

Documents

Safety data sheet (SDS)

The current SDS for Palladium(II) chloride is supplied with every quotation and shipment. Request a copy.

Certificate of analysis (CoA)

Issued per lot with palladium assay. Enter the lot number from your label.

Find a CoA

Frequently asked questions

Why will my palladium chloride not dissolve in water?

Anhydrous palladium(II) chloride is a chloride-bridged coordination polymer and is kinetically very slow to dissolve in pure water. Add chloride: suspend it in 0.1–1 M hydrochloric acid or in sodium chloride solution (at least two chloride ions per palladium) and warm gently, and it dissolves within minutes to give the red-brown tetrachloropalladate(II) ion. For organic solvents, reflux in acetonitrile converts it to the soluble bis(acetonitrile) complex.

How do I prepare bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium dichloride, PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂?

Dissolve palladium(II) chloride in hot dimethyl sulfoxide (or in hydrochloric acid followed by ethanol), add 2.0–2.2 equivalents of triphenylphosphine, and allow the mixture to cool; the yellow complex crystallises and is washed with ethanol and ether. Yields are near quantitative. The same approach with other phosphines (dppf, dppe, PCy₃) gives the corresponding dichloropalladium complexes.

How do I make tetrachloropalladic acid for catalyst impregnation?

Weigh the palladium(II) chloride needed for the target metal loading (it is about 60% palladium; use the assay on the certificate of analysis), add 1 M hydrochloric acid in a modest excess (for example 5 mL per gram) and warm with stirring until the solution is clear and red-brown, then dilute to the impregnation volume. Palladium on carbon is made by stirring this solution with activated carbon, adjusting the pH with sodium carbonate and reducing with formaldehyde, sodium formate or hydrogen.

What hazards should I be aware of with palladium chloride?

It is harmful if swallowed, causes serious eye damage and is a skin sensitiser. Repeated skin contact with palladium salts can produce a persistent allergy, so gloves and good housekeeping matter more than with most laboratory solids. It is not an oxidiser and is not regulated for transport. Read the SDS supplied with the lot.

Ordering, shipping and documentation
What is the CAS number of palladium(ii) chloride?

Palladium(II) chloride has CAS Registry Number 7647-10-1. Its formula is PdCl2 (177.33 g/mol) and it contains about 60% palladium by mass.

How is palladium(ii) chloride priced?

Pack prices are linked to the live palladium spot price: palladium content × spot €/g, plus a fixed fee per pack for manufacture, packaging and the certificate of analysis. The price shown is indicative and confirmed on your quotation; it excludes VAT and shipping.

Is palladium(ii) chloride classed as dangerous goods for shipping?

No. Palladium(II) chloride is not regulated for transport and ships by standard courier across Ireland and the EU.

Do you supply a certificate of analysis and SDS for palladium(ii) chloride?

Yes. Every lot ships with a lot-specific certificate of analysis including palladium assay, and the current safety data sheet is available on this page and on request. Lot certificates can also be retrieved by lot number from our CoA lookup.

Where do you ship palladium(ii) chloride?

We ship from Dublin to Ireland (from €12.00) and to all EU member states (from €25.00), plus Northern Ireland. For research and industrial use only; business customers only.

Related palladium and precious-metal compounds

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Palladium36.2% Pd

Sodium tetrachloropalladate(II)

Na2PdCl4 · CAS 13820-53-6

Sodium tetrachloropalladate(II) is a red-brown, water-soluble palladium(II) salt, the usual choice when a palladium source must be dissolved directly in water or alcohol. It is used for the aqueous synthesis of palladium nanoparticles and colloids, for Pd/C and other supported catalysts, for electroless plating activation, for ligand-free and aqueous-phase cross-coupling, and as a precursor to palladium(II) complexes. Approximately 36% palladium by mass; each lot is assayed and released with a certificate of analysis.

Grade
≥99.9% (metals basis); Pd ≈ 36%
Pack sizes
1 g, 5 g, 25 g
from €48.00 excl. VAT
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Palladium47.4% Pd

Palladium(II) acetate

Pd(OAc)2 · CAS 3375-31-3

Palladium(II) acetate is the most widely used palladium precatalyst in organic synthesis: Suzuki–Miyaura, Heck, Buchwald–Hartwig, Sonogashira, Negishi and Stille couplings, C–H activation and functionalisation, and Wacker-type oxidations. It is also the usual starting point for Pd nanoparticles, supported palladium catalysts and palladacycles. Supplied as the pure trimer, free of the nitrite-containing impurity, with a lot-specific palladium assay.

Grade
≥99.9% (metals basis); Pd 47.4%, trimer form
Pack sizes
1 g, 5 g, 25 g, 100 g
from €55.00 excl. VAT
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Potassium tetrachloropalladate(II)

K2PdCl4 · CAS 10025-98-6

Potassium tetrachloropalladate(II) is a red-brown, water-soluble palladium(II) salt used as a precursor for shape-controlled palladium nanocrystals, palladium(II) coordination and organometallic complexes, PdCl2(ligand)2 precatalysts, supported catalysts and electrocatalysts, and as a catalyst precursor for cross-coupling in aqueous media. Approximately 32.6% palladium by mass; supplied with a lot-specific assay and certificate of analysis.

Grade
≥99.9% (metals basis); Pd ≈ 32.5%
Pack sizes
1 g, 5 g, 25 g
from €45.50 excl. VAT
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Palladium39.94% Pd

Palladium(II) nitrate dihydrate

Pd(NO3)2·2H2O · CAS 32916-07-7

Palladium(II) nitrate dihydrate is a water-soluble, brown, hygroscopic palladium salt used to prepare supported palladium catalysts by impregnation (automotive three-way and diesel oxidation catalysts, Pd/Al2O3, Pd/C), as a chemical matrix modifier in graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, as a halide-free palladium source for palladium nanoparticles and electrocatalysts, and in palladium plating. Approximately 40% palladium by mass; supplied with a lot-specific palladium assay.

Grade
≥99.9% (metals basis); Pd ≈ 40%
Pack sizes
5 g, 25 g, 100 g
from €155.50 excl. VAT
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