Disproportionation of homoleptic rhodium carbonyls

Both [Rh₄(CO)₁₂] and [Rh₆(CO)₁₆] disproportionate in pyridine to cis-[Rh(CO)₂(py)₂]⁺ and [Rh₅(CO)₁₃(py)₂]⁻. In the same solvent, cis-[Rh(CO)₂(py)₂]⁺ is reduced by CO/H₂O to [(py)₂H][Rh₅(CO)₁₃-(py)₂], which has been structurally characterized.     

Binuclear methyplatinum and phenylplatinum complexes with bis(dimethylphosphino)methane ligands

Reaction of cis-[Ptph₂(SMe₂)₂] with Me₂PCH₂PMe₂ (dmpm) gave cis-[PtPh₂(dmpm-P)₂] (1) or cis,cis-[Pt₂Ph₄(μ-dmpm)₂] (2) and reaction of 1 with [Pt₂Me₄(μ-SMe₂)₂] gave cis,cis-[Ph₂Pt(μ-dmpm)₂PtMe₂] (3). Reaction of 1 with trans-[PtClR(SMe₂)₂] gave cis,trans-[Ph₂Pt(μ-dmpm)₂PtClR], R = Me (5) or Ph (6), and in polar solvents, these isomerized to give [Ph₂Pt(μ-dmpm)₂PtR]⁺Cl⁻. When R = Me, further isomerization via the phenyl group transfer gave [PhMePt(μ-dmpm)₂PtPh]⁺Cl⁻. Oxidative addition of methyl iodide occurred reversibly at the cis-[PtMe₂P₂ unit of 3 to give cis,fac-[Ph₂Pt(μ-dmpm)₂PtIMe₃] but complex 2 failed to react with MeI. A comparison with similar known complexes of Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂ (dppm) is made and differences are attributed primarily to the lower steric hindrance of dmpm.     

Synthesis and structure of neutral and cationic pentahaloarylpalladium(II) isonitrile complexes

Complexes of the types (a) trans- and cis-[Pd(C₆X₅)₂ (CNR)₂], (b) trans- [Pd(C₆X₅)Cl(CNR)₂] and (c) [Pd(C₆X₅)(CNR)₃]ClO₄ (X = F or Cl;R = Bu^t cyclohexyl or p-tolyl) have been made by replacement of the tetrahydrothiophen or Cl groups of appropriate precursors by isonitrile. Their structures have been assigned on the basis of their IR and ¹H NMR spectra.     

Übergangsmetall-carbin-komplexe : LXXXIII. Neue anionische mer-dihalogeno-tricarbonyl-dialkylamino-carbin-komplexe des wolframs

The reaction of trans-X(CO)₄WCNR₂ (X = Br, R = ^c hex (cyclohexyl); X = Cl, R = ^c hex, ⁱpr (isopropyl) with M⁺X⁻ (M⁺ = NEt₄⁺, X⁻ = Br⁻; M⁺ = PPN⁺, X⁻ = Cl⁻) leads under substitution of one CO ligand to new anionic dihalo(tricarbonyl)carbyne-tungsten complexes of the type M⁺ mer-[(X)₂(CO)₃WCNR₂]⁻ (M⁺ = NEt₄⁺, X = Br, R = ^c hex; M⁺ = PPN⁺, X = Cl, R = ^c hex, ⁱ pr), whose composition and structure were determined by elemental analysis as well as by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. In the anionic carbyne complexes the entered halogen ligand, coordinated in a cis position relative to the carbyne ligand on the metal, can be easily substituted by neutral nucleophiles, as the reaction of PPN⁺ mer-[(Cl)₂(CO)₃WCN^chex₂]⁻ with PPh₃ demonstrates yielding the neutral carbyne complex mer-[Cl(CO)₃(PPh₃)WCN^chex₂].     

Syntheses, X-ray structures, and reactions of ruthenium carbonyl complexes containing 1,1-dithiolates

Treatment of [Ru₂(CO)₄(MeCN)₆][BF₄]₂ or [Ru₂(CO)₄(μ-O₂CMe)₂(MeCN)₂] with uni-negative 1,1-dithiolate anions via potassium dimethyldithiocarbamate, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, potassium tert-butylthioxanthate, and ammonium O,O′-diethylthiophosphate gives both monomeric and dimeric products of cis-[Ru(CO)₂(η²-(SS))₂] ((SS)⁻=Me₂NCS₂⁻ (1), Et₂NCS₂⁻ (2), ^tBuSCS₂⁻ (3), (EtO)₂PS₂⁻ (4)) and [Ru(CO)(η²-(Me₂NCS₂))(μ,η²-Me₂NCS₂)]₂ (5). The lightly stabilized MeCN ligands of [Ru₂(CO)₄(MeCN)₆][BF₄]₂ are replaced more readily than the bound acetate ligands of [Ru₂(CO)₄(μ-O₂CMe)₂(MeCN)₂] by thiolates to produce cis-[Ru(CO)₂(η²-(SS))₂] with less selectivity. Structures 1 and 5 were determined by X-ray crystallography. Although the two chelating dithiolates are cis to each other in 1, the dithiolates are trans to each other in each of the {Ru(CO)(η²-Me₂NCS₂)₂} fragment of 5. The dimeric product 5 can be prepared alternatively from the decarbonylation reaction of 1 with a suitable amount of Me₃NO in MeCN. However, the dimer [Ru(CO)(η²-Et₂NCS₂)(μ,η²-Et₂NCS₂)]₂ (6), prepared from the reaction of 2 with Me₃NO, has a structure different from 5. The spectral data of 6 probably indicate that the two chelating dithiolates are cis to each other in one {Ru(CO)(η²-Et₂NCS₂)₂}fragment but trans in the other. Both 5 and 6 react readily at ambient temperature with benzyl isocyanide to yield cis-[Ru(CO)(CNCH₂Ph)(η²-(SS))₂] ((SS)=Me₂NCS₂⁻ (7) and Et₂NCS₂⁻ (8)). A dimerization pathway for cis-[Ru(CO)₂(η²-(SS))₂] via decabonylation and isomerization is proposed.     

Steric effects of the 2-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine bridging ligand in the synthesis of binuclear palladium(II) complexes

Treatment of [Pd{CH₂C(CH₃)CH₂}(Ph₂PPy)Cl] (Ph₂PPy = 2-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine) with cis-[Pd(^tBuNC)₂Cl₂] in dichloromethane affords the mixed isocyanide-tertiary phosphine complex cis-[Pd(^tBuNC)Ph₂PPy)Cl₂], in which the Ph₂PPy is a monodentate P-donor, and [{Pd[CH₂C(CH₃)CH₂]Cl}₂]. The steric effects of the Ph₂PPy bridging ligand in determining the reaction course is discussed. The complex cis-[Pd(^tBuNC)(Ph₂PPy)Cl₂] was crystallographically characterized: P2₁/n, a = 15.143(2), b = 9.527(1), c = 17.517(4) Å, β = 113.96(1)°, V= 2309.4(7) ų, Z = 4. The final R value was 0.044, R^w= 0.046 for the 3078 reflections with I > 3σ(I).     

The lively chemistry of the di-μ-methylene-bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl-rhodium) complexes, analogues of surface reactions in heterogeneous catalysis

The chemistry of the di-μ-methylene-bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl-rhodium) complexes is reviewed. The complex [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl₂}₂] (1a) reacted with MeLi to give, after oxidative work-up, blood-red cis-[{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-CH₂)}₂(Me)₂], 2. This has the two rhodiums in the +4 oxidation state (d⁵), and linked by a metal-metal bond (2.620 Å). Trans-2 was formed on isomerisation of cis-2 in the presence of Lewis acids, or by direct reaction of 1a with Al₂Me₆, followed by dehydrogenation with acetone. The Rh-methyls in [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-CH₂)}₂(Me)₂] were readily replaced under acidic conditions (HX) to give [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-CH₂)}₂(X)₂] (X = Cl, Br or I); these latter complexes reacted with a variety of RMgX to give [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-CH₂)}₂(R)₂] (R = alkyl, Ph, vinyl, etc.). Trans-2 also reacted with HBF₄ in the presence of L to give first [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-CH₂)}₂(Me)(L)]⁺ and then [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-CH₂)}₂(L)₂]²⁺ (L = MeCN, CO, etc.). The {(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-CH₂)}₂ core is rather kinetically inert and also forms a variety of complexes with oxy-ligands, both cis-, e.g. [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-CH₂)}₂(μ-OAc)]⁺ and trans-, such as [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-CH₂)}₂(H₂O)₂]²⁺. The complexes [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-CH₂)}₂(R)L]⁺ (R = Me or aryl) in the presence of CO, or [{(η⁵-C₄Me₅)Rh(μ-CH₂)}₂(R)₂] (R = Me, Ph or CO₂Me) in the presence of mild oxidants, readily yield the C---C---C coupled products RCH=CH₂. The mechanisms of these couplings have been elucidated by detailed labelling studies: they are more complex than expected, but allow direct analogies to be drawn to C---C couplints that occur during Fischer-Tropsch reactions on rhodium surfaces.     

Cobalt(III) complexes of ethylenediamine-N,N′-di-S-isobutylacetic acid

A new optically active ONNO-type tetradentate ligand, ethylenediamine-N,N′- di-S-isobutylacetate (SS-eniba), has been synthesized. During the preparation of diaqua cobalt(III) complexes of SS-eniba, [Co(SS-eniba)(H₂O)₂]⁺, the title ligand has coordinated stereospecifically to the cobalt(III) ion to give three isomers, Δ-s-cis, Δ-uns-cis and Λ-uns-cis, which have been isolated and characterized via electronic absorption, circular dichroism (CD), and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, along with elemental analysis data. The preparation of Δ-s-cis-[Co(SS-eniba)Cl₂]⁺ and Δ-s-cis-[Co(SS-eniba)CO₃]⁺ are also reported.     

Optically active coordination compounds---XLVIII. Synthesis, resolution and interconversions of isomers of tris-salicylatocobaltate(III)

Stable aqueous solutions of the green ion [Co(sa1)₃]³⁻ (sa1 = dianion, C₆H₄( )(CO ), of salicylic acid, 2-hydroxybenzoic acid) are obtained from [Co(NH₃)₅ C1]C1₂ and an excess of salicylic acid. Several salts, [C][Co(sa1)₃] have been characterized, where C = [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ and [M(en)₃]³⁺ (M = Co or Rh, EN = 1,2-diamino-ethane). By using (+)-[Rh(en)₃]³⁺, optical resolution via less soluble diastereoisomeric salts has been achieved, and isomerization and racemization have been studied. Resolved tris-malonatocobaltate(III) has been used as a model. A novel thermochromism (77-293 K) in solid Δ(+)-[Rhen₃]Λ[Co(sa1)₃ is described.     

Absence of phosphate hydrolysis in the nucleotide substitution reaction on cis-[Co(H2O)2(cyclen)] at physiological pH: Importance of hydrogen-bonding and conjugate base-catalysis

The use of classical Werner-type cis-[Co(Cl)₂(tetraamine)]⁺ (tetraamine = cyclen or tren) complexes for their complexation study of biologically relevant ligands has been pursued. These chlorocomplexes are found to be in the chloroaqua/chlorohydroxo forms under the physiological conditions used, their chloride substitution reactivity being dominated by conjugate base pathways, specially when tetraamine = cyclen. Further studies with nucleotides indicate that the substitution processes on cis-[Co(H₂O)₂(tetraamine)]³⁺, up to neutral pH, correspond to a simple reaction producing final stable phosphato bound mononucleotide complexes. These complexes are found to be an equilibrium mixture between monodentate O-phosphato and chelate O-phosphato-N-nucleotide forms. No evidence has been found for hydrolytic cleavage of the phosphato-nucleoside bond, as found in other systems with activated phosphates or higher pH values. A full kinetic profile of the process is proposed for the systems in the 2–7 pH range which is the same for chloride, nucleoside and nucleotide substitutions. The results are indicative of an important degree of outer-sphere hydrogen bonding between the cobaltocomplex and the entering biologically relevant ligands, as expected for these processes.     

Equilibrium reactions network for the cis- or trans-bis(pyrazine)tetraammineruthenium(II/III) and ruthenium(II/III)-EDTA complexes

The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical behavior of the binuclear and trinuclear complexes generated from the association of cis- or trans-[Ru(NH₃)₄(pz)₂]^3+/2+ (where pz represents pyrazine) and [RuEDTA(H₂O)]^2−/− complexes has been investigated in aqueous solution. Based on two sets of spectrophotometrically determined equilibrium constants and on the formal redox potentials, the complex network of equilibrium reactions involving mixed valence species has been elucidated.     

Organometallic complexes for nonlinear optics: Part 32: Synthesis, optical spectroscopy and theoretical studies of some osmium alkynyl complexes

The complexes trans-[Os(CCPh)Cl(dppe)₂] (1), trans-[Os(4-CCC₆H₄CCPh)Cl(dppe)₂] (2), and 1,3,5-{trans-[OsCl(dppe)₂(4-CCC₆H₄CC)]}₃C₆H₃ (3) have been prepared. Cyclic voltammetric studies reveal a quasi-reversible oxidation process for each complex at 0.36–0.39 V (with respect to the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple at 0.56 V), assigned to the Os^II/III couple. In situ oxidation of 1–3 using an optically transparent thin-layer electrochemical (OTTLE) cell affords the UV–Vis–NIR spectra of the corresponding cationic complexes 1⁺–3⁺; a low-energy band is observed in the near-IR region (11 000–14 000 cm⁻¹) in each case, in contrast to the neutral complexes 1–3 which are optically transparent below 20 000 cm⁻¹. Density functional theory calculations on the model compounds trans-[Os(CCPh)Cl(PH₃)₄] and trans-[Os(4-CCC₆H₄CCPh)Cl(PH₃)₄] have been used to rationalize the observed optical spectra and suggest that the low-energy bands in the spectra of the cationic complexes can be assigned to transitions involving orbitals delocalized over the metal, chloro and alkynyl ligands. These intense bands have potential utility in switching nonlinear optical response, of interest in optical technology.     

The ion-pair association constant of oxalate with fac-tris(2-aminomethylpyridine)cobalt(III)

The equilibrium constant K for the ion-pair formation fac-[Co(pic)₃]³⁺ + C₂O₂₂₋ fac-[Co(pic)₃]³⁺/C₂O₄²⁻¹ where pic = 2-aminomethylpyridine, has been determined spectrophotometrically at 0.35 M (KCl) ionic strength and 25.0°C, using four different calculation approaches. The best results were obtained when the concentration of the minor component (the cobalt complex ion) was not neglected in comparison with the oxalate ion concentration. The value of K (5.3 M⁻¹) increases when the supporting electrolyte is LiCl (K = 8.2 M⁻¹). The effect of the ionic strength variation from 0.35 to 2.0 M (LiCl) was also investigated.     

P and C NMR investigation of the system tetracarbonyldi-μ-chlorodirhodium(I) — tertiary phosphine

¹³C and ³¹P{¹H} NMR data at low temperature prompted us to characterize cis-[Rh(CO)₂(PR₃)Cl] (3) (3a, PR₃ = PPh₃; 3b, PR₃ = PMe₂Ph), as surprisingly stable products of the reaction between [{Rh(CO)₂(μ-Cl)}₂] (1) and tertiary phosphines in toluene (P : Rh = 1). Every attempt to isolate solid 3a led to the cis- and trans- halide-bridged dimers [{Rh(CO)₂(μ-Cl)}₂] (5a) and 6a which are formed from 3a by slow decarbonylation, a process which is greatly accelerated by the evaporation of the solvent under vacuum.

The analogous reaction of 1 with dimethylphenylphosphine follows a similar pathway; in this case, however, low temperature NMR spectra allowed us to characterize the pentacoordinated dinuclear species [{Rh(CO)₂(μ-Cl)}₂] (2b) as the unstable intermediate of the bridge-splitting process.

The reaction of 3 with a second equivalent of phosphine (P : Rh = 2) leads, at room temperature, to the well known product trans-[Rh(CO)(PR₃)₂Cl] (8) accompanied by evolution of CO; however our data show that when the reaction is performed at 200 K, decarbonylation is prevented and spectroscopic evidence of trigonal bipyramidal pentacoordinate [Rh(CO)₂(PR₃)₂Cl] (7), stable only at low temperature, can be obtained.     

Template-directed Synthesis of Three Metal Oxalates via 4-Connected Building Units

Three novel compounds, [Co（en）3]2[Zr2（C2O4）7]·2H20（HNU-2, en=ethylenediamine）, [Co（NH3）6]· [Ce（CzO4）3（H2O）]·H2O（HNU-3） and [Co（dien）2][Gd（C2On）3]·0.75H2O（HNU-4, dien=dethylenetriamine） were hydro- thermal synthesized based on the templates of [Co（en）3]C13, [C0（NH3）6]C13 and [Co（dien）2]C13, respectively. The Zr4＋ Ce3＋ and Gd3＋ cations are all coordinated by four oxalates to form [M（C2O4）n（H2O）n]m （M=Zr, Ce or Gd; n=0 or 1; m=4 or 5）, which are similar to [In（C2O4）4]5- in NKB-1, and can be regarded as 4-connected building units. The [M（C2O4）a（H2O）n]m units are connected via sharing the bis-bidentate bridging oxalate ligands to form binuclears in HNU-2 and 1D ＂zigzag＂ chains in HNU-3 and HNU-4. cular building units to design 3D open frameworks with It is suggested that these compounds could be used as mole- zeolite topologies.     

Palladium(II) coordination and cyclometallated complexes derived from 1-tert-butylpyrazole

The synthesis and characterization of a number of new coordination compounds of Pd^II with the nitrogen donor 1-tert-butylpyrazole (^tBuPzH) are described. Compounds are trans-[Pd(^tBuPzH)₂Cl₂] and the cyclometallated structures [Pd₂(^tBuPz)₂(AcO)₂] and [Pd₃(^tBuPz)₂(AcO)₄]. All these complexes are mixtures of syn and anti isomers. Also, the chloro-bridged complex [Pd₂(^tBuPz)₂Cl₂] has been isolated as an equilibrium mixture of cis and trans isomers. The compounds have been studied by variable temperature ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy.     

Optimised hydrothermal synthesis of multi-dimensional hybrid coordination polymers containing flexible organic ligands

In this paper, we summarise our recent research interest in the hydrothermal synthesis and structural characterisation of multi-dimensional coordination polymers. The use of N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid (also referred to as H₄pmida) in the literature as a versatile chelating organic ligand is briefly reviewed. This molecule plays an important role in the formation of centrosymmetric dimeric [V₂O₂(pmida)₂]⁴⁻ anionic units, which were first used by us as building blocks to construct novel coordination polymers. Starting with [V₂O₂(pmida)₂]⁴⁻ in solution, we have isolated [M₂V₂O₂(pmida)₂(H₂O)₁₀] species (where M²⁺ = Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ or Cd²⁺) via the hydrothermal synthetic approach, which were then employed for the construction of [CdVO(pmida)(4,4′-bpy)(H₂O)₂]·(4,4′-bpy)_0.5·(H₂O), [CoVO(pmida)(4,4′-bpy)(H₂O)₂]·(4,4′-bpy)_0.5, [Co(H₂O)₆][CoV₂O₂(pmida)₂(pyr)(H₂O)₂]·2(H₂O) and [Cd₂V₂O₂(pmida)₂(pyr)₂(H₂O)₄]·4(H₂O) by the inclusion of bridging organic ligands in the reactive mixtures, such as pyrazine (pyr) and 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bpy). These materials can contain channel systems, and exhibit magnetic behaviour, not only due to the V⁴⁺ centres but also to the transition metal centres which establish the links between neighbouring dimeric [V₂O₂(pmida)₂]⁴⁻ anionic units. A closely related anionic moiety, [Ge₂(pmida)₂(OH)₂]²⁻, was engineered to allow the study of such crystalline hybrid materials using one- and two-dimensional high-resolution solid-state NMR.     

Synthesis, spectra and crystal structures of two Ru complexes with polypyridyl ligands: cis-[Ru(bpy)2(4,4′-bpy)Cl](PF6)·H2O and cis-[Ru(phen)2(CH3CN)2](PF6)2

Two mononuclear Ru^II complexes of polypyridyl ligands, cis-[Ru(bpy)₂(4,4′-bpy)Cl](PF₆)·H₂O (1) and cis-[Ru(phen)₂(CH₃CN)₂](PF₆)₂ (2) (bpy=2,2′-bipyridyl, 4,4′-bpy=4,4′-bipyridyl, and PHEN=1,10-phenanthroline), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and UV–vis spectra. The crystal structures of both complexes have been determined by X-ray diffraction, indicating that each Ru^II center is hexa-coordinated (RuN₅Cl for 1 and RuN₆ for 2) and takes a distorted octahedral geometry. The favored feature of both complexes is that they are quite useful complex precursors for further constructing new functional architectures.     

Das perfluortriazinium-kation als oxidationsmittel in der metallorganischen synthese—ein neuer weg zur darstellung von [Cp2MCl2](M = Mo

The oxidation of Cp₂MCl₂ (M= Mo, W) with perfluortriazinium tetrafluoroborate, [(FCN)₃F]⁺[BF₄]⁻, in the presence of a flouride ion acceptor (BF₃ or PF₅) in SO₂ solution yielded the cationic metallocene complexes [Cp₂MCl ₂]²⁺[BF₄]⁻ or [C_p2MCl₂] ²⁺[BF₄]⁻[PF₆]⁻ (M = Mo, W), respectively. In these reactions, for the first time the perfluortriazinium cation has proved to be easy to handle and a useful oxidizer in organometallic chemistry. The oxidizer strength of three fluorotriazinium cations, [(XCN)₃F]⁺ (X = F, Cl, H), has been computed ab initio (HF/6 − 31 + G) and calibrated on literature data which were obtained by local density functional calculations. It was anchored to its F⁺ zero point by an experimental value for KrF⁺. ab]Die Oxidation von Cp²MCl₂ mit (M = MO, W) Perfluortriaziniumtetrafluoroborat, [(FCN)₃F]⁺[BF₄]⁻, in Anwesenheit eines Fluoridionenakzeptors (BF₃ oder PF₅) führte in SO₂-Lösung zur Bildung der kationischen Metallocen-Komplexe [Cp₂MCl₂₊]²⁺[BF₄]₂⁻ bzw. [Cp₂MCl₂]²⁺[BF₄]⁻ [PF₆]⁻ (M = Mo, W). In diesen Reaktionen konnte erstmals gezeigt werden, daß Perfluortriazinium-Kationen einfach zu handhabende und nützliche Oxidationsmittel im Bereich der metallorganischen Synthese darstellen. Das (Mdationsvermögen von drei Fluorotriazinium-Kationen, [(XCN)₃F]⁺(X = F, Cl, H), wurde ab initio berechnet (HF/6 − 31 + G) und mit Hilfe von Literaturdaten, die mittels local density functional-Berechnungen erhalten und am experimentellen Wert von KrF ⁺ bezüglich des F⁺ Nullpunktes verankert wurden, kalibriert.     

Synthesis, structure and reactions of organometallic compounds of Groups 1–3 containing bulky silicon-substituted alkyl groups

Complexes trans-[PtX(L)(PPh₃)₂]A [1: X = CF₃; A = BF₄; L = NCNH₂, NCNMe₂, NCNEt₂, or NCNC(NH₂)₂. 2: X = Cl; A = BPh₄; L = NCNMe₂ or NCNEt₂] and cis-[PtCl(L)(PPh₃)₂][BPh₄] [3: L = NCNH₂ or NCNC(NH₂)₂], which appear to be the first cyanamide or cyanoguanidine complexes of platinum to be reported, have been prepared by treatment of trans-[PtBr(CF₃)(PPh₃)₂] (in CH₂Cl₂/acetone and in the presence of Ag[BF₄]) or of cis-[PtCl₂(PPh₃)₂] (in THF and in the presence of Na[BPh₄]), respectively, with the appropriate substrate. In KBr pellets or in solution 1 (L = NCNMe₂ or NCNEt₂) undergoes ready replacement of the organocyanamide (under the trans influence of CF₃) by bromide to regenerate trans-(PtBr(CF₃)(PPh₃)₂]. The X-ray structure of 1 (X = CF₃, A = BF₄, L = NCNEt₂) is also reported, and shows the presence of two apical intramolecular contacts of the metal with two ortho-hydrogen atoms of the phosphines, whereas the amine N atom of the diethylcyanamide is trigonal planar in the linear NCN framework with a delocalized π system.