Double addition of phenylacetylene onto the mixed bridge phosphinito-phosphanido Pt(i) complex [(PHCy2)Pt(μ-PCy2){κ2: P, O -μ-P(O)Cy2}Pt(PHCy2)](Pt-Pt)

The reaction of the dinuclear phosphinito bridged complex [(PHCy2)Pt(μ-PCy2){κ2P,O-μ-P(O)Cy2}Pt(PHCy2)](Pt-Pt) (1) with phenylacetylene affords the η1-alkenyl-μ,η1:η2-alkynyl complex [(η1-trans-(Ph)HCCH)(PHCy2)Pt(μ-PCy2)(μ,η1:η2-PhCC)Pt{κP-P(O)Cy2}(PHCy2)] (4) displaying a σ-bonded 2-phenylethenyl ligand and an alkynyl (μ-κCα:η2) bridge between the platinum atoms. Complex 4 was shown to form in two steps: initially, the attack of the first molecule of phenylacetylene gives the σ-acetylide complex [(PHCy2)(η1-PhCC)Pt1(μ-PCy2)Pt2(PHCy2){κP-P(OH)Cy2}](Pt-Pt) (5) featuring an intramolecular π-type hydrogen bond between the POH and the CC triple bond; fast reaction of 5 with a second molecule of phenylacetylene results in the oxidative addition of the terminal C-H bond of the second alkyne to Pt1 that, after rearrangements, leads to 4. When left in solution for two weeks, complex 4 spontaneously isomerizes completely to [(PHCy2)(η1-trans-(Ph)HCCH)Pt(μ-PCy2){κ2P,O-μ-P(O)Cy2}Pt(η1-PhCC)(PHCy2)] (7) displaying a 2-phenylethenyl ligand and a phenylethynyl group both σ-bonded to the metal. Density functional calculations at the B3LYP/LACV3P++∗∗//DFT/LACVP∗ level were carried out to study the thermodynamics of the formation of all considered complexes and to trace the mechanism of formation of the observed products.