Photochemistry of platinum phosphine complexes. Perspective in C-H bond activation

The photochemistry of the diphosphino Pt(II) hydrides [LPtH2] (L=(t-Bu)2P (CH2)2P(t-Bu)2 (7); L=(t-Bu)2P(CH2)3P(t-Bu)2 (8);L=(t-Bu)(Ph)P(CH2)2P(Ph) (t-Bu) (9)) is reported. The primary photoevent is the dissociation of H2 and formation of the 14-e [LPt] species. These coordinatively unsaturated intermediates provide a versatile entry point into the C---H bond activation of hydrocarbons. [LPt] reacts with benzene in an oxidative addition reaction to yield [LPt(H)(C6H5)] complexes. The importance of the metal centre and ancillary ligation in the C---H bond activation is discussed.