Stoichiometric aerobic aminohydroxylation of ethylene mediated by dpms–platinum complexes (dmps = di(2-pyridyl)methanesulfonate)

Chloro di(2-pyridyl)methanesulfonate ethylene platinum(II) complex was converted to corresponding N-alkylplatina(II)azetidines by reacting the former with primary amines, MeNH2 and tert-BuNH2, to produce 2-ammonioethyl chloro platinum(II) species and their subsequent cyclization in the presence of NaOH in methanol. The N-alkylplatina(II)azetidines are oxidized under air or the atmosphere of pure O2 to the corresponding N-alkylplatina(IV)azetidines in water or in methanol solution in the presence of one equivalent of a strong acid under ambient pressure at 22 °C. The resulting N-alkylplatina(IV)azetidines undergo C–O reductive elimination in acidic aqueous solutions to produce 2-(N-alkylamino)ethanols.