Insertion reactions of SnCl2 into Pt-Cl bonds in pentahalophenylplatinate(II) complexes.

Several pentahalophenylplatinate complexes with Pt-Sn metal-metal bonds have been synthesized by facile insertion of SnCl2 into Pt-Cl bonds of the starting platinum substrates. The complexes have been characterized spectroscopically and, in the case of (NBu4)(2)[trans-Pt-2(SnCl3)(2)(C6F5)(2)] and (NBu4)(2)[trans-Pt-2(mu-Cl)(2)(SnCl3)(2)(C6F5)(2)], the structures have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The reactivity of these derivatives towards neutral ligands has been explored. The electronic spectra of some selected derivatives have also been examined. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.