Photochemistry of platinum phosphine complexes. Perspective in C---H bond activation

The photochemistry of the diphosphino Pt(II) hydrides [LPtH₂] (L=(t-Bu)₂P(CH₂)₂P(t-Bu)₂ (7); L=(t-Bu)₂P(CH₂)₃P(t-Bu)₂ (8);L=(t-Bu)(Ph)P(CH₂)₂P(Ph)(t-Bu) (9)) is reported. The primary photoevent is the dissociation of H₂ and formation of the 14-e [LPt] species. These coordinatively unsaturated intermediates provide a versatile entry point into the C---H bond activation of hydrocarbons. [LPt] reacts with benzene in an oxidative addition reaction to yield [LPt(H)(C₆H₅)] complexes. The importance of the metal centre and ancillary ligation in the C---H bond activation is discussed.