Binuclear hydrido platinum(II) complexes: syntheses of [{Pt(PP)}2(μ-CHCH2R)(μ-H)][BF4] (R=C6H5, H) and easy cleavage of a PC bond in a chelating 1,4-bis (diphenyl)phosphinobutane (PP)

Reactions of the binuclear platinum(II) trihydrido complex, [Pt2{(Ph2P)2(CH2)4}2(H)3][BF4], with styrene or ethylene, at room temperature and low pressure, give μ-alkylidene, μ-hydrido cationic species [Pt2{(Ph2P)2(CH2)4}2(μ-CHCH2R)(μ-H)][BF4] (R=C6H5, 1; H, 2) together with an unexpected phosphido-bridged binuclear platinum(II) compound (3), originating from cleavage of a PC bond in the coordinated diphosphine. Complexes 1–3 are discussed on the basis of FAB MS, IR and multinuclear NMR spectra in solution.