Synthesis and characterization of platinum(0) alkene complexes; X-ray crystal structure determinations on [Pt(trans-PhCH=CHCHO)(PPh(3))(2)] and [Pt(trans-PhCH=CHCOMe)(PPh(3))(2)]

Reaction of [Pt(C2H4)(PPh(3))(2)] with a range of alkenes gave the complexes [Pt(alkene)(PPh(3))(2)]. Complexes of alkenes bearing electron-withdrawing ligands were, predictably, more stable than those of electron-rich alkenes. The complexes were characterized by multinuclear (H-1, C-13, P-31 and Pt-195) NMR spectroscopy and the structures of the derivatives of trans-PhCH=CHCHO and trans-PhCH-CHCOMe were established by X-ray diffraction studies. The complexes reacted with PCy(3) to give [Pt(alkene)(PCy(3))(PPh(3))], usually as a mixture of regioisomers. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd