Photoswitchable organoplatinum complexes with an azobenzene derivative of di-2-pyridylamine

Abstract

A new di-2-pyridylamine ligand with an appended azobenzene group (2-C₅H₄N)₂N-4-C₆H₄-NN-Ph, dpaa, is reported. This ligand readily forms the platinum(II) complexes [PtMe₂(dpaa)], 1, and [PtCl₂(dpaa)], 2. Complex 1 is electron-rich and it undergoes oxidative addition with I₂, MeI or PhCH₂Br to give the corresponding organoplatinum(IV) complexes [PtI₂Me₂(dpaa)], [PtIMe₃(dpaa)] or [PtBrMe₂(CH₂Ph)(dpaa)]. Both the ligand dpaa and its platinum complexes undergo photoswitching by trans–cis isomerization about the NN linkage.