Structural studies on platinum alkene complexes and precursors

A number of platinum complexes, precursors to alkene complexes (Pt₂Cl₄(PPh₃)₂ and cis-PtCl₂(CH₃CN)(PPh₃)), alkene complexes (cis-PtCl₂(C₂H₄)(PPh₃), cis-PtCl₂(C₃H₆)(PPh₃) and cis-PtCl₂(1-C₆H₁₂)(PPh₃)), the diamination product of a 1,3-butadiene platinum complex and the 1,2,3,4-tetramethylcyclobutadiene complex resulting from dimerization of 2-butyne have been synthesized, characterized and the structures determined by X-ray diffraction. The ethylene complex, cis-PtCl₂(C₂H₄)(PPh₃), has been a useful reagent for preparing other alkene complexes. Reaction of a bound butadiene complex with diethylamine yielded a diamination product with anti-Markovnikov stereochemistry. An attempt at binding cis-butyne to the metal center resulted in metal-assisted formation of 1,2,3,4-tetramethylcyclobutadiene with previously unreported geometry.