Solvent-controlled switch of selectivity between sp2 and sp3 C–H bond activation by platinum(ii)

Abstract

By merely changing the solvent, two different cyclometalated platinum complexes resulted from either sp² or sp³ C–H bond activation can be prepared selectively. For example, the reaction of L1 with K₂PtCl₄ in MeCN gave exclusively kinetic product 1a, while the reaction in AcOH was thermodynamically controlled and produced predominantly 1b.