Surface-mediated organometallic synthesis: preparation of platinum carbonyl [Pt3(CO)6]n2- (n = 3, 4) by the carbonylation of platinum complexes on magnesium oxide under carbon monoxide and carbon monoxide + dihydrogen

Treatment in CO or CO+H 2 of samples prepared by adsorption of Pt(C 3 H 5 ) 2 on MgO leads to carbonylation reactions forming [Pt 3 (CO) 6 ] n 2− (n=3, 4) on the MgO surface at room temperature. These anions can be extracted into solution by cation metathesis, giving efficient syntheses of the clusters. The surface-mediated synthesis can be directed to either anionic cluster. The reactivity is controlled by the basicity of the MgO surface and the gas environment. Similar surface organometallic chemistry takes place when the precursor is Na 2 PtCl 6 •6H 2 O, but higher temperatures (80°C) are required and mixtures are not always avoidable