Regiospecific Acylation of Cycloplatinated Complexes: Scope, Limitations, and Mechanistic Implications

A series of platinum complexes based on the tridentate cyclometalating ligand derivatives 6-arylamino-2,2′-bipyridine, 6-phenoxy-2,2′-bipyridine, 6-phenylthio-2,2′-bipyridine, 6-benzyl-2,2′-bipyridine, and 6-benzoyl-2,2′-bipyridine were synthesized, and their acylation reactions were studied. Acylation of platinum complexes based on 6-(4-R-phenylamino)-2,2′-bipyridine derivatives (R = CH3O, CH3, Cl, COOEt) tolerates both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents on the aryl ring that are para to the amino group. However, platinum complexes based on 6-(3-R′-phenylamino)-2,2′-bipyridine (R′ = CH3, Cl, Br) did not undergo the acylation reaction under the same conditions. Interestingly, the acylation of the platinum complexes based on 6-(3-fluorophenylamino)-2,2′-bipyridine proceeded smoothly, and the results indicate that the acylation is regiospecific and occurs at the metalated carbon. Complexes based on 6-phenoxy-2,2′-bipyridine, 6-phenylthio-2,2′-bipyridine, and 6-benzyl-2,2′-bipyridine are...