Aqua palladium complexes: synthesis, properties and applications

Contrary to quite general opinion, many aqua palladium complexes have been isolated and characterized. In this review, we present the first comprehensive study of the synthesis of aqua palladium complexes and their properties. The methods of preparation have been classified according to the nature of the starting palladium complexes. The spectroscopic properties (IR, NMR, UV-vis), the kinetic and reaction mechanisms, the theoretical studies and the crystal structures of aqua palladium complexes are studied. Of particular interest are their many applications as catalysts in very different processes. Thus, their uses for the synthesis of other complexes, as artificial metallo-peptidases and -proteases, and other catalytic applications have been reviewed.