title: H/D exchange at sp(3) carbons in the coordination sphere of platinum(II).
abstract: The [PtCl(η(1)-CH2CH2OR)(Me2phen)], Me2phen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, complex is indefinitely stable in the solid state; however, when dissolved in protic deuterated solvents at basic pH, it undergoes H-D exchange at the Me2phen Me's. An analogous H-D exchange process takes place in the related [PtCl2(Me2phen)] complex which is sterically strained and very easily can detach one nitrogen of Me2phen yielding a T-shaped species. In contrast, the H-D exchange is considerably slower in the [Pt(OR)2(Me2phen)] complex characterized by smaller size and lower trans-labilizing effect of the oxygen donor ligands. It is suggested that the formation of a T-shaped intermediate could foster the C-H activation via oxidative addition to the metal centre. In accord with this hypothesis, the H/D exchange was found to be considerably slower in analogous complexes with 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl (Me2bpy), where the greater flexibility of Me2bpy, as compared to Me2phen, reduces the strain in the four coordinate substrate and hence the propensity to dissociate one end of the bidentate ligand.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, Università del Salento, Via Monteroni, I-73100 Lecce, Italy. michele.benedetti@unisalento.it.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.forename: Carmen R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: Chiara R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Girelli
authors.forename: Francesco P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Fanizzi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Natile
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maresca