Platination of [3-X-7,8-Ph2-7,8-nido-C2B9H8]2− (X=Et, F): Synthesis and characterisation of slipped and 1,2→1,7 isomerised products

The reaction of the labelled carborane ligand [3-Et-7,8-Ph2-7,8-nido-C2B9H8]2− with a source of {Pt(PMe2Ph)2}2+ affords non-isomerised 1,2-Ph2-3,3-(PMe2Ph)2-6-Et-3,1,2-closo-PtC2B9H8 (1). The analogous reaction between [3-F-7,8-Ph2-7,8-nido-C2B9H8]2− and {Pt(PMe2Ph)2}2+ yields 1,8-Ph2-2,2-(PMe2Ph)2-4-F-2,1,8-closo-PtC2B9H8 (3). Compound 1 has a heavily slipped structure (Δ 0.72 Å), which to some degree obviates the need for C atom isomerisation. However, that it is a kinetic product of the reaction is evident from the fact that it reverts to isomerised 1,8-Ph2-2,2-(PMe2Ph)2-4-Et-2,1,8-closo-PtC2B9H8 (2) slowly at room temperature but more rapidly with gentle warming. The heteroatom and labelled-B atom positions in the isomerised compounds 2 and 3 may be explained most simply by the rotation of a CB2 face of an intermediate based on the structure of 1. Compounds 1–3 were characterised by a combination of spectroscopic and crystallographic techniques.