[Pd{CH2C(O)Me}Cl]n, a key product for the synthesis of acetonylpalladium(II) complexes

[Hg{CH2C(O)Me}(2)] reacts with [PdCl2(MeCN)(2)] (1:1) or with (Me4N)(2)[Pd2 Cl6] (2:1) to give [Pd{CH2C(O)Me}Cl](n), which can be used to prepare a var iety of acetonyl complexes. Thus, by reacting it; with the appropriate liga nds, complexes [Pd{CH2C(O)Me}I](n), [Pd{CH2C(O)-Me}CIL2] [L-2 = N,N,N 'N ' -tetramethylethylenediamine, 2,2 ' -bipyridine, 4,4 '-(Bu-t)(2)-2,2 ' -bipy ridine, 1,10-phenathroline; L = PPh3, dimethyl sulfoxide (dmso)], [Pd-2{CH2 C(O)Me}{mu-kappa (2)-C,O-CH2C(O)Me}(mu -Cl)Cl(dmso)(2)], or [Pd-2{CH2C(O)Me }(2)(mu -Cl)(2)(tetrahydrothiophene)(2)] can be obtained. The crystal struc tures of the last two complexes and that of [Hg{CH2C(O)Me}(2)] have been de termined by X-ray crystallography.