Solvent-controlled switch of selectivity between sp2and sp3C–H bond activation by platinum(ii)

Abstract

By merely changing the solvent, two different cyclometalated platinum complexes resulted from either sp(2) or sp(3) C-H bond activation can be prepared selectively. For example, the reaction of L1 with K(2)PtCl(4) in MeCN gave exclusively kinetic product 1a, while the reaction in AcOH was thermodynamically controlled and produced predominantly 1b.