Formation and Decomposition of the Methylplatinum(IV) Complex in the Mechanically Activated K2PtCl4 Powder–MeI Vapor System

Mechanical treatment of the K₂PtCl₄ solid salt in a vibrating mill results in Pt–Cl bond heterolysis to form coordinatively unsaturated Pt(II) complexes. At room temperature, the freshly treated K₂PtCl₄ salt absorbs methyl bromide and evolves methyl chloride to the gas phase. The reaction mechanism involves the following sequence of steps: the oxidative addition of methyl iodide to Pt(II) with the intermediate formation of Pt(IV) methyl complexes and the decomposition of the latter due to intramolecular reductive elimination with methyl chloride formation. The first step of the reaction of MeI with the preactivated surface of the K₂PtCl₄ salt is assisted by active sites, which are regenerated in each act of the chemical transformation of MeI into MeCl involving in the chain substitution of halogen in methyl iodide. The coordinatively unsaturated surface platinum complexes can act as such active sites. Due to their effective positive charge, they can provide electrophilic assistance to nucleophilic substitution. Chain termination is probably due to the coordination of the complex with a coordination vacancy and an interstitial chloride ion to the inactive K₂PtCl₄ complex.