Isolation, characterization, and kinetics of formation of the cis and trans isomers of bis(acetonitrile)dichloroplatinum(II)

Abstract

The bis(acetonitrile)dichloroplatinum(II) obtained by the standard procedure has been shown to be a mixture of the cis and trans isomers the composition of which depends upon the experimental conditions used. The pure isomers have been characterized by i.r. and 1H n.m.r. spectroscopy and the conditions for the preferential obtainment of each isomer have been explored. Kinetic measurements have shown that the formation of the cis isomer is kinetically favoured in the reaction of [PtCl3(NCMe)]– with a second molecule of acetonitrile, indicating that the chlorine ligand exerts a trans-labilizing effect greater than that of acetonitrile.