Photoactive trans ammine/amine diazido platinum(IV) complexes

The synthesis and characterisation of eight new octahedral PtIV complexes of the type trans,trans,trans-[Pt(N3)2(OH)2(NH3)(Am)] where Am = methylamine (2), ethylamine (4), thiazole (6), 2-picoline (8), 3-picoline (10), 4-picoline (12), cyclohexylamine (14), and quinoline (16) are reported, including the X-ray crystal structures of complexes 2, 8, and 14 as well as that of two of the precursor PtII complexes (trans-[Pt(N3)2(NH3)(methylamine)] (1) and trans-[Pt(N3)2(NH3)(cyclohexylamine)] (13)). Irradiation with UVA light rapidly induces loss in intensity of the azide-to-PtIV charge-transfer bands and gives rise to photoreduction of platinum. These complexes have potential for use as photoactivated anticancer agents.