The photodecomposition of platinacycloalkanes in solution.: I. 1,3-propanediylplatinum(IV) compounds

The gaseous products of the photolysis at 25°C of the platinacyclobutane compounds X₂$\text{PtCH}{}_2\text{CH}{}_2\text{C}$H₂(N-N)] where X = Cl, Br and N-N = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′-bipyridine, (CH₂NMe₂)₂, (C₅H₅N)₂ in several solvents, in the absence and presence of various additives, have been determined. With solvents of relatively low dielectric constant (e.g. CH₂Cl₂), over 85 mol % of the hydrocarbon products was propene, the formation of which appears to involve a direct transfer of a hydrogen atom between neighbouring groups in the ring. With solvents of relatively high dielectric constant (MeCN, Me₂SO) in the presence of species, e.g. I^?, SbPh₃, having a high trans effect, cyclopropane is the main volatile product. The effect of added halide ion and of the mixed solvents Me₂SO/PhMe and Me₂SO/PhSH indicates that ionisation of the platinacyclobutane and the formation of platinum substituted propyl ion-radicals precede the formation of cyclopropane (and the small amounts of ethylene produced).The photolysis of X₂$\text{PtCH}{}_2\text{CH}{}_2\text{C}$H₂(MeCN)₂] in methyl cyanide solution in the presence of Et₃RNX′ (X′ = Cl, R = H; X′ = Br, R = Et) gives appreciable amounts of ethylene in the products (up to 25 mol %). It is suggested that the halide ions add to the platinum to give negatively charged platinacyclobutane species, the photodecomposition of which may give C₂H₄.