A comparative study of neighbouring group effects on the isomerization of imines in platinum-imine complexes by 1H, 13C, 31P and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy

¹⁹⁵Pt-, ³¹P-, ¹³C- and ¹H-chemical shifts are reported for the first time for complexes of the type trans-PtCl₂ (η²-C₂H₄) (imine)], I, trans-PtCl₂ (η²-C₂H₄) (amine)] II, and trans-PtCl₂(PR′₃) (imine)] III (the imine ligand being derived from cyclopropyl-2-thienylketone and primary amines; PR′₃ = PBuⁿ₃ and PPh₃; amine; the amine ligand obtained by the reduction of the appropriate imine). The use of multinuclear spectroscopy provides strong evidence for E-Z isomerization of imine ligands coordinated to platinum (II) of the type trans-PtCl₂ (η²-C₂H₄)(imine)]. Tertiary phosphine ligands trans to imine ligand (III) are not strongly labilizing groups, in contrast to η²-C₂H₄, which shows a strong labilizing effect. The effect of neighbouring groups on E-Z isomerization indicates that increase of the bulky substituents close to the imino group tends to increase the rate of isomerization, and increasing the degree of substitution on the imine carbon atoms slows the rate of isomerization. Furthermore, addition of a trace of amine will catalyze the E-Z isomerization. Also, isomerization takes place in the liquid state to give one isomer during the coordination with platinum.