The cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes
[PtMe(C∧N)(L)] [1
PS
: C∧N = 2-phenylpyridinate (ppy), L = SMe2; 1
BS
: C∧N = benzo[h]quinolate
(bhq), L = SMe2; 1
PP
: C∧N = ppy, L = PPh3; and 1
BP
: C∧N = bhq, L = PPh3] containing two different cyclometalated ligands and two
different ancillary ligands have been investigated in the reaction
with CX3CO2H (X = F or H). When L = SMe2, the Pt–Me bond rather than the Pt–C bond of
the cycloplatinated complex is cleaved to give the complexes [Pt(C∧N)(CX3CO2)(SMe2)].
When L = PPh3, the selectivity of the reaction is reversed.
In the reaction of [PtMe(C∧N)(PPh3)]
with CF3CO2H, the Pt–C∧N bond is cleaved rather than the Pt–Me bond. The latter reaction
gave [PtMe(κ1N–Hppy)(PPh3)(CF3CO2)] as an equilibrium mixture of two isomers.
For L = PPh3, no reaction was observed with CH3CO2H. The reasons for this difference in selectivity for
complexes 1 are computationally discussed based on the
energy barrier needed for the protonolysis of the Pt–Csp
3 bond versus the Pt–Csp
2 bond. Two pathways including the direct one-step acid attack
at the Pt–C bond (SE2) and stepwise oxidative–addition
on the Pt(II) center followed by reductive elimination [SE(ox)] are proposed. A detailed density functional theory (DFT) study
of these protonations along with experimental UV–vis kinetics
suggests that a one-step electrophilic attack (SE2) at
the Pt–C bond is the most likely mechanism for complexes 1, and changing the nature of the ancillary ligand can influence
the selectivity in the Pt–C bond cleavage. The effect of the
nature of the acid and cyclometalated ligand (C∧N) is also discussed.