Potassium tetrachloropalladate(II) is widely used as a reagent and as a source of palladium chloride to make other palladium complexes and palladium nanoparticles. It finds an application in the synthesis of semiconducting metal-containing polymers. It also reacts with bis(dithiolates) to form metal-bis(dithiolates), which is used in bar code material, laser Q-switch materials, optical CD recording media and superconductivity.
Potassium chloropalladite can be used in the synthesis of semiconducting metal-containing polymers in which the polypyrrole backbone has a conformational energy minimum and is nearly planar.1
All operations should be carried out in an efficient fume cupboard. Cyanide is very POISONOUS. Dissolve the complex (ca 5g)in a solution of KCN (4g) in H2O (75mL) with warming and stirring, and evaporate hot till crystals appear. Cool, filter off the crystals and wash them with a few drops of cold H2O. Further concentration of the mother liquors provides more crystals. The complex is recrystallised from H2O as the colourless trihydrate. It effloresces in dry air and dehydrates at 100o to the monohydrate. The anhydrous salt is obtained by heating at 200o, but at higher temperatures it decomposes to (CN)2, Pd and KCN. [Bigelow Inorg Synth II 245 1946.]
