Trichloroamine complexes of platinum: preparation,crystal structure and solution behavior of cytosinium trichlorocytosineplatinate(II)

A complex containing a protonated and N3-platinated cytosine (C), [CH][Cl₃Pt(C)] (1a) has been prepared, converted into its K[Cl₃Pt(C)] (1b) and NH₄[Cl₃]Pt(C)]·H₂O (1c) analogs, and structurally characterized (X-ray, Raman, NMR). Reaction of 1b with L = 1-methylcytosine and with L = Me₂SO gave the neutral mixed-ligand complexes cis-Cl₂Pt(C)L. Excess NH₃ was used to convert the anion of 1b into the cation [(NH₃)₃Pt(C)]²⁺ (3a). The pK_a of the N(1)H proton in 3a is 9.4, as determined by UV spectroscopy. The N(1)H is displaced by Pt(II) electrophiles even at neutral pH to give N3,N1-diplatinated cytosinato complexes, as shown by ¹H NMR (³J coupling or ¹⁹⁵Pt at N(1) with H6, 29 Hz, and ⁴J coupling of ¹⁹⁵Pt at N(3) with H5, 14Hz). The results of the X-ray structure determination of 1a (R = 0.031, R_w = 0.034) are of relevance in that they permit a direct comparison of the effect of a proton as opposed to that of a Pt electrophile on the nucleobase geometry. Moreover, the expected decrease in CO(2) bond length as a consequence of Pt binding is observed.