Activation of small molecules by an amphiphilic phosphinito bridged Pt(I)-Pt(I) complex

Abstract The complex [(PHCy2)Pt(μ-PCy2){κ 2P,O-μ-P(O)Cy2}Pt(PHCy2)](Pt-Pt) (1) constitutes a rare example of unsymmetrical phosphinito diplatinum species that, due to the simultaneous presence of a soft binding atom (P) linked to a hard one (O), undergoes smooth reaction with nucleophiles, electrophiles, dihydrogen and terminal alkynes. The tested nucleophiles were PHCy2, PCy3, P(S)HCy2 and CO, whereas the investigated electrophiles were several Bronsted acids as well as metal based species (AuCl, Au(PPh3)Cl, AgX, X = OTf, BF4, ClO4, Cl, (PPh3)OTf). The alkynes used in reaction with 1 were (trimethylsilyl)acetylene and phenylacetylene. In all cases the skeletal framework was preserved and in one case (reaction with diluted HF) dimerization led to a tetranuclear species.