Oxidative addition of Se–X bonds and reductive elimination of Se–C bonds in platinum compounds containing hydrocarbyl ligands

The oxidative addition of PhSe–X molecules (X=Cl or Br) to Pt(II) complexes of formula [PtR(R′)(N,N-chelate)] [R, R′=Me, CH(CO2Me)2, CH(CO2Me)(CN); N,N-chelate=4,4′-(tert-butyl)2-2,2′-bipyridine] is described. The reaction quantitatively affords octahedral products [PtR(R′)(SePh)(X)(N,N-chelate)], and is highly selective, since only the isomers with -X and -SePh in trans position are obtained. When R=R′=CH(CO2Me)2 or R=R′=CH(CO2Me)2(CN) an irreversible reductive elimination takes place in solution, giving rise to Pt(II) compounds [PtR(X)(N,N-chelate)] and organoselenium molecules PhSeR′.