Some alkyldiplatinum(I) complexes and studies of the photochemical and thermal decomposition of the [Pt2Et(µ-Ph2PCH2PPh2)2(Ph2PCH2PPh2-P)]+ cation

Abstract

The first alkyldiplatinum(I) complexes containing β-hydrogen atoms, [Pt₂R(µ-dppm)₂(dppm-P)][PF₆](R = Et, CD₃CH₂, Pr, or Bu; dppm = Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂), were prepared by reaction of [Pt₂(µ-dppm)₃] with RI followed by addition of K[PF₆]. The complexes were yellow, air-stable solids which were characterized by ¹H and ³¹P n.m.r. spectroscopy. Photochemical or thermal decomposition of the ethyl derivative was shown to involve β elimination, which occurred subsequent to the rate-determining step.