C–H AND C–Cl ACTIVATION BY MONONUCLEAR AND DINUCLEAR PLATINUM COMPLEXES WITH 7-AZAINDOLYL–CONTAINING CHELATES

Abstract

Since Shilov and coworkers ^[1] demonstrated the catalytic oxidation of CH₄ into CH₃OH and CH₃Cl, using a Pt(II) salt as a catalyst and stoichiometric amount of Pt(IV) species as an oxidant in an aqueous system, the direct and selective functionalization of hydrocarbons by late transition metal complexes has attracted much research effort due to their potential applications on the utilization of hydrocarbon resources from natural gas or petroleum. Much recent work on C–H activations involving Pt metal atoms has been concentrated on cationic mononuclear Pt(II) diimine compounds. This review describes the results from our group on C–H activations using Pt(II) complexes that contain a 7-azaindolyl chelate ligand capable of blocking one binding site of the Pt(II) center. We will focus on a dinuclear Pt(II) compound and its unique reactivity toward C–H bonds. For comparison purposes, related mononuclear Pt(II) compounds and their reactivity toward C–H bonds will also be described. To aid the understanding of the reactivity of the dinuclear Pt(II) compound with C–H bonds, we will also present the results of our investigation on the reaction of the same Pt₂ compound with C–Cl bonds. The potential use of the new Pt(II) compounds, especially the Pt₂ compound in selective C–H activation processes, will be discussed.

Notes

We thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for financial support for research activities described in this review.