Photochemistry of platinum phosphine complexes. Perspective in C-H bond activation

The photochemistry of the diphosphino Pt(II) hydrides [LPtH2] (L=(t-Bu)P(CH2)2P(t-Bu)2 (7) ; L= (t-Bu)2P(CH2)3P(t-Bu)2 (8); L= (t-Bu)(Ph)P(CH2)2P(Ph)(t-Bu) (9) is reported. The primary photoevent is the dissociation of H2 and formation of the 14-e[LPt] species. These coordinatively unsaturated intermediates provide a versatile entry point into the C-H bond activation of hydrocarbons.[LPt] reacts with benzene in an oxidative addition reaction to yield [LPt(H)(C6H5)] complexes. The importance of the metal centre and ancillary ligation in the C-H bond activation is discussed.