Palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes with N-substituted methionines

Summary As an approach to systems containing methionine residues, 3-acetyl-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (HDh, dehydroacetic acid) was treated with L-methionine (MetH) or L-methionine methylester (MetM). By condensation at the acyl group and transfer of the phenolic hydrogen on the nitrogen atom, the related ligands DhMetH and DhMetM, were isolated, and form complexes of formula [MX₂(L)₂](M = Pd or Pt, L = DhMetM, X = Cl, Br or I; L = DhMetH, X = Cl or Br) and [MI₂(DhMetH)] with palladium and platinum dihalides. The reaction of the DhMetK carboxylate with MCl₂ in various media is discussed. Ligands and complexes were characterized by i.r. and n.m.r. (¹H and¹³C) spectroscopy and, in some cases, by thermogravimetric measurements. The ligands behave as monodentate sulphur donors, the 12 complexes showing atrans geometry except for [PtCl₂(DhMetH)₂], which is probably a mixture ofcis andtrans isomers.