Bridge splitting of trans-[PtCl2(C2H4)]2 by ethene using a simple combined NMR–UV/vis cell: Crystal and molecular structure of cis-[PtCl2(C2H4)2]

Bridge splitting of trans-[PtCl2(C2H4)]2 by C2H4 in chloroform yields trans-[PtCl2(C2H4)2] which slowly isomerises to cis-[PtCl2(C2H4)2] (crystal structure reported); the bridge-splitting equilibrium constant was determined as 6.8 ± 0.6 mol−1 dm3 by the use of a combined NMR tube/spectrophotometric cell, enabling NMR and UV/vis measurements on the same closed system.