η3-Furfuryl and η3-Thienyl Complexes of Palladium and Platinum of Relevance to the Functionalization of Biomass-Derived Furans

A number of cationic and neutral eta(3)-furfuryl complexes of palladium and platinum were prepared, including one with a ligand derived from fructose, 5-chloromethylfurfural. The complexes were studied by variable-temperature and heteronuclear correlation NMR spectroscopy, as well as single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Analogous eta(3)-thienyl complexes could be prepared and detected in solution by NMR, but could not be isolated due to facile decomposition.