Related literature {#sec1}
==================

The title compound is isostructural with the corresponding dichlorido complex, *trans*-\[PdCl~2~{P(*p*-ClPh)~3~}~2~\], see: Kolosova *et al.* (1986[@bb5]).

Experimental {#sec2}
============

 {#sec2.1}

### Crystal data {#sec2.1.1}

\[PdBr~2~(C~18~H~12~Cl~3~P)~2~\]*M* *~r~* = 997.41Monoclinic,*a* = 10.3453 (3) Å*b* = 17.4489 (6) Å*c* = 10.6180 (4) Åβ = 103.385 (2)°*V* = 1864.63 (11) Å^3^*Z* = 2Mo *K*α radiationμ = 3.18 mm^−1^*T* = 100 K0.33 × 0.30 × 0.25 mm

### Data collection {#sec2.1.2}

Bruker X8 APEXII 4K Kappa CCD diffractometerAbsorption correction: multi-scan (*SADABS*; Bruker, 1998[@bb2]) *T* ~min~ = 0.378, *T* ~max~ = 0.45320106 measured reflections4487 independent reflections3916 reflections with *I* \> 2σ(*I*)*R* ~int~ = 0.046

### Refinement {#sec2.1.3}

*R*\[*F* ^2^ \> 2σ(*F* ^2^)\] = 0.026*wR*(*F* ^2^) = 0.060*S* = 1.044487 reflections214 parametersH-atom parameters constrainedΔρ~max~ = 0.67 e Å^−3^Δρ~min~ = −0.74 e Å^−3^

 {#d5e356}

Data collection: *APEX2* (Bruker, 2005[@bb4]); cell refinement: *SAINT-Plus* (Bruker, 2004[@bb3]); data reduction: *SAINT-Plus* and *XPREP* (Bruker, 2004[@bb3]); program(s) used to solve structure: *SHELXS97* (Sheldrick, 2008[@bb6]); program(s) used to refine structure: *SHELXL97* (Sheldrick, 2008[@bb6]); molecular graphics: *DIAMOND* (Brandenburg & Putz, 2006[@bb1]); software used to prepare material for publication: *SHELXL97*.

Supplementary Material
======================

Crystal structure: contains datablocks I, global. DOI: [10.1107/S1600536809045413/cv2637sup1.cif](http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S1600536809045413/cv2637sup1.cif)

Structure factors: contains datablocks I. DOI: [10.1107/S1600536809045413/cv2637Isup2.hkl](http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/S1600536809045413/cv2637Isup2.hkl)

Additional supplementary materials: [crystallographic information](http://scripts.iucr.org/cgi-bin/sendsupfiles?cv2637&file=cv2637sup0.html&mime=text/html); [3D view](http://scripts.iucr.org/cgi-bin/sendcif?cv2637sup1&Qmime=cif); [checkCIF report](http://scripts.iucr.org/cgi-bin/paper?cv2637&checkcif=yes)

Supplementary data and figures for this paper are available from the IUCr electronic archives (Reference: [CV2637](http://scripts.iucr.org/cgi-bin/sendsup?cv2637)).

Financial assistance from the University of the Free State and Professor A. Roodt is gratefully acknowledged. Part of this material is based on work supported by the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) under grant No. GUN 2068915.

Comment
=======

The title compound, (I), is one of a few literature structures containing a Pd centre coordinated by to Br atoms and two P donor ligands in a *trans* configuration. Our research is aimed at expanding the number of known structures of the aforementioned type and to finally generalize on the crystallization mode, if any, of these complexes.

The molecule of (I) (Fig. 1), is centrosymmetric with pairs of equivalent P donor ligands *trans* to one another in a slightly distorted square-planar geometry \[P---Pd---Br 86.589 (15)°\].

The corresponding chloro complex (Kolosova *et al.*, 1986) is iso-structural to (I) when comparing the geometrical parameters. The RMS error of 0.097 Å also indicate the iso-structurality of the two complexes (the title complex superimposed with the corresponding dichloro-palladium complex (Kolosova *et al.*, 1986) including all the atoms except the hydrogen atoms).

Experimental {#experimental}
============

The title complex was synthesized by the addition of 2.2 equivalents of tris(4-Cl-phenyl)-phosphine (21 mg, 0.059 mmol) to \[Pd(COD)Br~2~\] (10 mg, 0.026 mmol) in 10 ml of dichloromethane while stirring for 5 minutes. Slow evaporation of the solvent resulted in orange crystals suitable for X-Ray diffraction (yield 74%, 19 mg).

Refinement {#refinement}
==========

All H atoms were positioned geometrically and allowed to ride on their parent atoms, with C---H = 0.95 Å and *U*~iso~(H) = 1.2*U*~eq~(C).

Figures
=======

![Representation of the title compound, showing the numbering scheme and displacement ellipsoids (50% probability). For the carbon rings, the first digit refers to ring number, second digit to atom in the ring. Hydrogen atoms omitted for clarity \[symmetry code: (i) 1 - x,1 - y,1 - z\].](e-65-m1565-fig1){#Fap1}

Crystal data {#tablewrapcrystaldatalong}
============

  ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
  \[PdBr~2~(C~18~H~12~Cl~3~P)~2~\]   *F*(000) = 976
  *M~r~* = 997.41                    *D*~x~ = 1.776 Mg m^−3^
  Monoclinic, *P*2~1~/*n*            Mo *K*α radiation, λ = 0.71073 Å
  Hall symbol: -P 2yn                Cell parameters from 7624 reflections
  *a* = 10.3453 (3) Å                θ = 2.3--28.4°
  *b* = 17.4489 (6) Å                µ = 3.18 mm^−1^
  *c* = 10.6180 (4) Å                *T* = 100 K
  β = 103.385 (2)°                   Cuboid, orange
  *V* = 1864.63 (11) Å^3^            0.33 × 0.30 × 0.25 mm
  *Z* = 2                            
  ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

Data collection {#tablewrapdatacollectionlong}
===============

  ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------
  Bruker X8 APEXII 4K Kappa CCD diffractometer                 4487 independent reflections
  Radiation source: fine-focus sealed tube                     3916 reflections with *I* \> 2σ(*I*)
  graphite                                                     *R*~int~ = 0.046
  Detector resolution: 512 pixels mm^-1^                       θ~max~ = 28.0°, θ~min~ = 2.3°
  φ and ω scans                                                *h* = −13→13
  Absorption correction: multi-scan (*SADABS*; Bruker, 1998)   *k* = −20→23
  *T*~min~ = 0.378, *T*~max~ = 0.453                           *l* = −10→14
  20106 measured reflections                                   
  ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------

Refinement {#tablewraprefinementdatalong}
==========

  ------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Refinement on *F*^2^                  Primary atom site location: structure-invariant direct methods
  Least-squares matrix: full            Secondary atom site location: difference Fourier map
  *R*\[*F*^2^ \> 2σ(*F*^2^)\] = 0.026   Hydrogen site location: riding model
  *wR*(*F*^2^) = 0.060                  H-atom parameters constrained
  *S* = 1.04                            *w* = 1/\[σ^2^(*F*~o~^2^) + (0.0187*P*)^2^ + 1.3608*P*\] where *P* = (*F*~o~^2^ + 2*F*~c~^2^)/3
  4487 reflections                      (Δ/σ)~max~ = 0.002
  214 parameters                        Δρ~max~ = 0.67 e Å^−3^
  0 restraints                          Δρ~min~ = −0.74 e Å^−3^
  ------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special details {#specialdetails}
===============

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Geometry. All e.s.d.\'s (except the e.s.d. in the dihedral angle between two l.s. planes) are estimated using the full covariance matrix. The cell e.s.d.\'s are taken into account individually in the estimation of e.s.d.\'s in distances, angles and torsion angles; correlations between e.s.d.\'s in cell parameters are only used when they are defined by crystal symmetry. An approximate (isotropic) treatment of cell e.s.d.\'s is used for estimating e.s.d.\'s involving l.s. planes.
  Refinement. Refinement of *F*^2^ against ALL reflections. The weighted *R*-factor *wR* and goodness of fit *S* are based on *F*^2^, conventional *R*-factors *R* are based on *F*, with *F* set to zero for negative *F*^2^. The threshold expression of *F*^2^ \> σ(*F*^2^) is used only for calculating *R*-factors(gt) *etc*. and is not relevant to the choice of reflections for refinement. *R*-factors based on *F*^2^ are statistically about twice as large as those based on *F*, and *R*- factors based on ALL data will be even larger.
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fractional atomic coordinates and isotropic or equivalent isotropic displacement parameters (Å^2^) {#tablewrapcoords}
==================================================================================================

  ----- ------------- --------------- -------------- -------------------- --
        *x*           *y*             *z*            *U*~iso~\*/*U*~eq~   
  Pd    0.5000        0.5000          0.5000         0.01113 (6)          
  Br    0.66195 (2)   0.551557 (14)   0.68290 (2)    0.01764 (7)          
  P     0.54624 (5)   0.60598 (3)     0.38405 (5)    0.01106 (12)         
  C11   0.7244 (2)    0.61782 (12)    0.4023 (2)     0.0121 (4)           
  C12   0.7977 (2)    0.55569 (14)    0.3742 (2)     0.0181 (5)           
  H12   0.7539        0.5087          0.3466         0.022\*              
  C13   0.9335 (2)    0.56171 (14)    0.3862 (2)     0.0202 (5)           
  H13   0.9827        0.5200          0.3637         0.024\*              
  C14   0.9961 (2)    0.62964 (14)    0.4314 (2)     0.0167 (5)           
  C15   0.9267 (2)    0.69103 (14)    0.4626 (2)     0.0180 (5)           
  H15   0.9716        0.7371          0.4943         0.022\*              
  C16   0.7899 (2)    0.68506 (13)    0.4474 (2)     0.0166 (5)           
  H16   0.7410        0.7274          0.4682         0.020\*              
  Cl1   1.16679 (6)   0.63849 (4)     0.44886 (6)    0.02709 (15)         
  C21   0.4895 (2)    0.69919 (13)    0.4282 (2)     0.0127 (4)           
  C22   0.4671 (2)    0.71256 (14)    0.5508 (2)     0.0165 (5)           
  H22   0.4778        0.6720          0.6121         0.020\*              
  C23   0.4291 (2)    0.78460 (14)    0.5841 (2)     0.0193 (5)           
  H23   0.4141        0.7936          0.6678         0.023\*              
  C24   0.4134 (2)    0.84297 (13)    0.4944 (2)     0.0158 (5)           
  C25   0.4340 (2)    0.83135 (14)    0.3719 (2)     0.0169 (5)           
  H25   0.4222        0.8721          0.3109         0.020\*              
  C26   0.4722 (2)    0.75940 (13)    0.3396 (2)     0.0160 (5)           
  H26   0.4869        0.7509          0.2557         0.019\*              
  Cl2   0.36890 (6)   0.93429 (3)     0.53545 (6)    0.02335 (14)         
  C31   0.4774 (2)    0.60521 (12)    0.2097 (2)     0.0123 (4)           
  C32   0.3402 (2)    0.61279 (13)    0.1658 (2)     0.0151 (5)           
  H32   0.2860        0.6153          0.2267         0.018\*              
  C33   0.2820 (2)    0.61675 (13)    0.0353 (2)     0.0154 (5)           
  H33   0.1885        0.6221          0.0059         0.018\*              
  C34   0.3626 (2)    0.61276 (12)    −0.0525 (2)    0.0150 (5)           
  C35   0.4977 (2)    0.60225 (13)    −0.0127 (2)    0.0170 (5)           
  H35   0.5508        0.5975          −0.0743        0.020\*              
  C36   0.5555 (2)    0.59876 (13)    0.1195 (2)     0.0151 (5)           
  H36   0.6488        0.5919          0.1483         0.018\*              
  Cl3   0.28975 (6)   0.62480 (3)     −0.21644 (5)   0.02222 (13)         
  ----- ------------- --------------- -------------- -------------------- --

Atomic displacement parameters (Å^2^) {#tablewrapadps}
=====================================

  ----- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
        *U*^11^        *U*^22^        *U*^33^        *U*^12^        *U*^13^        *U*^23^
  Pd    0.01157 (11)   0.01282 (13)   0.00824 (12)   −0.00270 (9)   0.00075 (8)    0.00108 (9)
  Br    0.01929 (12)   0.01956 (13)   0.01117 (12)   −0.00653 (9)   −0.00241 (9)   0.00144 (9)
  P     0.0110 (3)     0.0124 (3)     0.0096 (3)     −0.0017 (2)    0.0020 (2)     0.0013 (2)
  C11   0.0124 (10)    0.0127 (11)    0.0109 (10)    −0.0004 (8)    0.0019 (8)     0.0035 (8)
  C12   0.0186 (11)    0.0145 (12)    0.0192 (12)    0.0000 (9)     0.0002 (9)     −0.0033 (9)
  C13   0.0218 (12)    0.0213 (13)    0.0168 (12)    0.0098 (10)    0.0033 (10)    −0.0025 (10)
  C14   0.0118 (10)    0.0272 (13)    0.0112 (11)    0.0012 (10)    0.0027 (8)     0.0019 (9)
  C15   0.0157 (11)    0.0157 (12)    0.0229 (13)    −0.0039 (9)    0.0051 (9)     −0.0008 (9)
  C16   0.0153 (11)    0.0121 (11)    0.0237 (13)    0.0013 (9)     0.0069 (9)     0.0000 (9)
  Cl1   0.0114 (3)     0.0469 (4)     0.0236 (3)     0.0021 (3)     0.0054 (2)     0.0013 (3)
  C21   0.0094 (10)    0.0157 (12)    0.0126 (11)    −0.0022 (8)    0.0020 (8)     −0.0005 (9)
  C22   0.0165 (11)    0.0195 (12)    0.0149 (11)    −0.0026 (9)    0.0062 (9)     0.0029 (9)
  C23   0.0200 (12)    0.0221 (13)    0.0184 (12)    −0.0005 (10)   0.0099 (10)    −0.0033 (10)
  C24   0.0105 (10)    0.0146 (12)    0.0235 (12)    −0.0017 (9)    0.0065 (9)     −0.0043 (9)
  C25   0.0155 (11)    0.0181 (12)    0.0168 (11)    0.0004 (9)     0.0030 (9)     0.0033 (9)
  C26   0.0176 (11)    0.0189 (12)    0.0124 (11)    0.0009 (9)     0.0054 (9)     0.0009 (9)
  Cl2   0.0251 (3)     0.0184 (3)     0.0303 (3)     0.0016 (2)     0.0141 (3)     −0.0046 (2)
  C31   0.0165 (11)    0.0090 (11)    0.0110 (10)    −0.0012 (8)    0.0022 (8)     0.0011 (8)
  C32   0.0166 (11)    0.0169 (12)    0.0125 (11)    −0.0008 (9)    0.0050 (9)     0.0017 (9)
  C33   0.0152 (11)    0.0128 (12)    0.0164 (11)    −0.0010 (9)    0.0002 (9)     0.0021 (9)
  C34   0.0247 (12)    0.0098 (11)    0.0082 (10)    −0.0006 (9)    −0.0006 (9)    −0.0015 (8)
  C35   0.0237 (12)    0.0161 (12)    0.0131 (11)    0.0016 (9)     0.0079 (9)     −0.0009 (9)
  C36   0.0156 (11)    0.0151 (12)    0.0158 (11)    0.0016 (9)     0.0058 (9)     0.0005 (9)
  Cl3   0.0325 (3)     0.0227 (3)     0.0093 (3)     0.0015 (3)     0.0003 (2)     −0.0014 (2)
  ----- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------

Geometric parameters (Å, °) {#tablewrapgeomlong}
===========================

  ----------------------- -------------- ----------------------- --------------
  Pd---P^i^               2.3317 (6)     C22---C23               1.387 (3)
  Pd---P                  2.3317 (6)     C22---H22               0.9500
  Pd---Br                 2.4252 (2)     C23---C24               1.378 (3)
  Pd---Br^i^              2.4252 (2)     C23---H23               0.9500
  P---C11                 1.820 (2)      C24---C25               1.381 (3)
  P---C31                 1.823 (2)      C24---Cl2               1.742 (2)
  P---C21                 1.827 (2)      C25---C26               1.383 (3)
  C11---C16               1.384 (3)      C25---H25               0.9500
  C11---C12               1.394 (3)      C26---H26               0.9500
  C12---C13               1.386 (3)      C31---C36               1.393 (3)
  C12---H12               0.9500         C31---C32               1.394 (3)
  C13---C14               1.382 (3)      C32---C33               1.379 (3)
  C13---H13               0.9500         C32---H32               0.9500
  C14---C15               1.372 (3)      C33---C34               1.389 (3)
  C14---Cl1               1.739 (2)      C33---H33               0.9500
  C15---C16               1.391 (3)      C34---C35               1.376 (3)
  C15---H15               0.9500         C34---Cl3               1.742 (2)
  C16---H16               0.9500         C35---C36               1.394 (3)
  C21---C26               1.394 (3)      C35---H35               0.9500
  C21---C22               1.395 (3)      C36---H36               0.9500
                                                                 
  P^i^---Pd---P           180.000 (17)   C23---C22---C21         120.5 (2)
  P^i^---Pd---Br          93.411 (15)    C23---C22---H22         119.7
  P---Pd---Br             86.589 (15)    C21---C22---H22         119.7
  P^i^---Pd---Br^i^       86.589 (15)    C24---C23---C22         119.3 (2)
  P---Pd---Br^i^          93.411 (15)    C24---C23---H23         120.4
  Br---Pd---Br^i^         180.000 (10)   C22---C23---H23         120.4
  C11---P---C31           104.88 (10)    C23---C24---C25         121.6 (2)
  C11---P---C21           104.43 (10)    C23---C24---Cl2         119.94 (17)
  C31---P---C21           101.18 (10)    C25---C24---Cl2         118.50 (18)
  C11---P---Pd            111.12 (7)     C24---C25---C26         118.8 (2)
  C31---P---Pd            116.79 (7)     C24---C25---H25         120.6
  C21---P---Pd            116.95 (7)     C26---C25---H25         120.6
  C16---C11---C12         119.1 (2)      C25---C26---C21         121.1 (2)
  C16---C11---P           122.37 (17)    C25---C26---H26         119.5
  C12---C11---P           118.44 (17)    C21---C26---H26         119.5
  C13---C12---C11         120.8 (2)      C36---C31---C32         119.1 (2)
  C13---C12---H12         119.6          C36---C31---P           123.10 (17)
  C11---C12---H12         119.6          C32---C31---P           117.81 (16)
  C14---C13---C12         118.7 (2)      C33---C32---C31         121.0 (2)
  C14---C13---H13         120.6          C33---C32---H32         119.5
  C12---C13---H13         120.6          C31---C32---H32         119.5
  C15---C14---C13         121.6 (2)      C32---C33---C34         118.8 (2)
  C15---C14---Cl1         118.69 (18)    C32---C33---H33         120.6
  C13---C14---Cl1         119.69 (18)    C34---C33---H33         120.6
  C14---C15---C16         119.3 (2)      C35---C34---C33         121.7 (2)
  C14---C15---H15         120.4          C35---C34---Cl3         119.80 (17)
  C16---C15---H15         120.4          C33---C34---Cl3         118.46 (18)
  C11---C16---C15         120.5 (2)      C34---C35---C36         118.9 (2)
  C11---C16---H16         119.8          C34---C35---H35         120.5
  C15---C16---H16         119.8          C36---C35---H35         120.5
  C26---C21---C22         118.8 (2)      C31---C36---C35         120.4 (2)
  C26---C21---P           119.79 (16)    C31---C36---H36         119.8
  C22---C21---P           121.43 (17)    C35---C36---H36         119.8
                                                                 
  Br---Pd---P---C11       49.81 (8)      Pd---P---C21---C22      23.8 (2)
  Br^i^---Pd---P---C11    −130.19 (8)    C26---C21---C22---C23   −0.4 (3)
  Br---Pd---P---C31       170.03 (8)     P---C21---C22---C23     177.41 (17)
  Br^i^---Pd---P---C31    −9.97 (8)      C21---C22---C23---C24   0.2 (3)
  Br---Pd---P---C21       −69.94 (8)     C22---C23---C24---C25   0.3 (3)
  Br^i^---Pd---P---C21    110.06 (8)     C22---C23---C24---Cl2   −178.76 (17)
  C31---P---C11---C16     109.0 (2)      C23---C24---C25---C26   −0.4 (3)
  C21---P---C11---C16     3.0 (2)        Cl2---C24---C25---C26   178.59 (17)
  Pd---P---C11---C16      −123.98 (18)   C24---C25---C26---C21   0.2 (3)
  C31---P---C11---C12     −73.49 (19)    C22---C21---C26---C25   0.2 (3)
  C21---P---C11---C12     −179.49 (17)   P---C21---C26---C25     −177.63 (17)
  Pd---P---C11---C12      53.56 (19)     C11---P---C31---C36     11.9 (2)
  C16---C11---C12---C13   −2.6 (3)       C21---P---C31---C36     120.28 (19)
  P---C11---C12---C13     179.82 (18)    Pd---P---C31---C36      −111.59 (18)
  C11---C12---C13---C14   2.5 (4)        C11---P---C31---C32     −166.98 (17)
  C12---C13---C14---C15   −0.9 (4)       C21---P---C31---C32     −58.60 (19)
  C12---C13---C14---Cl1   179.37 (18)    Pd---P---C31---C32      69.53 (18)
  C13---C14---C15---C16   −0.6 (4)       C36---C31---C32---C33   −2.4 (3)
  Cl1---C14---C15---C16   179.15 (18)    P---C31---C32---C33     176.56 (18)
  C12---C11---C16---C15   1.0 (3)        C31---C32---C33---C34   0.2 (3)
  P---C11---C16---C15     178.56 (17)    C32---C33---C34---C35   2.4 (3)
  C14---C15---C16---C11   0.5 (3)        C32---C33---C34---Cl3   −175.38 (17)
  C11---P---C21---C26     78.41 (19)     C33---C34---C35---C36   −2.7 (3)
  C31---P---C21---C26     −30.3 (2)      Cl3---C34---C35---C36   175.00 (18)
  Pd---P---C21---C26      −158.34 (15)   C32---C31---C36---C35   2.0 (3)
  C11---P---C21---C22     −99.40 (19)    P---C31---C36---C35     −176.87 (17)
  C31---P---C21---C22     151.87 (18)    C34---C35---C36---C31   0.5 (3)
  ----------------------- -------------- ----------------------- --------------

Symmetry codes: (i) −*x*+1, −*y*+1, −*z*+1.
