Our efforts towards studying phosphite-ligated platinum(II) complexes for alkane C-H activation are reported. We were inspired by report by Shinoda and co-workers wherein (P(OR)3)3Pt(SnCl3)2 (R = Me, Et) complexes were shown to be catalysts for the acceptorless dehydrogenation of cyclooctane. We have explored the synthesis of bulky aryl phosphites as well as alkyl phosphites. Air-stable L2PtMe2 complexes ligated by bulky aryl phosphite ligands were synthesized and characterized. Thermolysis of the L2PtMe2 complexes in C6D6 results in formation of CH4 and one major platinum-containing product in high yield, due to cyclometalation of a sp3 C–H bond in the ligand to form a 6-membered ring, as confirmed by X-ray crystallography. We also explored other phosphite ligands to achieve intermolecular C-H activation and we will report our findings to date.

Platinum(II) complexes for C-H activation ligated by phosphite ligands

251st National Meeting (2016)

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