Synthesis, spectroscopy, structure and photophysical properties of dinaphthylmethylarsine complexes of palladium(II) and platinum(II)

Dinaphthylmethylarsine complexes of palladium(II) and platinum(II) with the formulae [MX2L2] (M = Pd, Pt; L = di(1-naphthyl)methylarsine = Nap2AsMe and X = Cl, Br, I), [M2Cl2(μ-Cl)2L2], [PdCl(S2CNEt2)L], [Pd2Cl2(μ-OAc)2L2] and [MCl2(PR3)L] (PR3 = PEt3, PPr3, PBu3, PMePh2) have been prepared. These complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR, Raman, NMR (1H, 13C, 31P) and UV–vis spectroscopy. The stereochemistry of the complexes has been deduced from the spectroscopic data. The crystal structures of trans-[PdCl2(PEt3)(Nap2AsMe)] and of [Pd(S2CNEt2)2], a follow-up product, were determined. The UV–vis spectra of [MX2L2] complexes show a red shift on going from X = Cl to X = I. The complexes [PdX2L2] and [PtX2L2] are strongly luminescent in fluid solution and in the solid at ambient temperature.