Synthesis and structural characterization of novel bridged platinum(II) biscarbene complexes

Novel bridged platinum(II) biscarbene complexes are reported: 1,1′-dimethyl-3,3′-methylene-4-diimidazolin-2,2′-diylidene platinum(II) (3) and 1,1′-dimethyl-3,3′-ethylene-4-diimidazolin-2,2′-diylidene platinum(II) complexes 4 are directly accessible in high yields starting from platinum halides. The one-pot synthesis obviates the need for multi-step reactions via metal precursors or free carbenes. An X-ray crystal structure of 1,1′-dimethyl-3,3′-methylene-4-diimidazolin-2,2′-diylidene platinum(II) dibromide (3b) confirmed the structural similarity to the known corresponding palladium complexes. Since free 1,1′-di-R-3,3′-methylene-4-diimidazolin-2,2′-diylidenes are only available in low yields this synthetic route provides an easy access to the corresponding carbene complexes.