SYNTHESIS OF PLATINUM(II) AND PALLADIUM(II) COMPLEXES CONTAINING SUBSTITUTED (2-AMINOPHENYL)PHOSPHINES - MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF CIS-[PTME(2-HNC6H4PPH2)(2-H2NC6H4PPH2)]

Bis(unidentate ligand)platinum(II) complexes of the type cis-[PtMe2L2] (where L = 2-H2NC6H4PPhR and R = H, Me or Ph) were readily formed upo n reaction of [PtMe2(cod)] (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene) with L in n-pen tane. The neutral ligand L is co-ordinated via the phosphorus donor at om. The complex cis-[PtMe2(2-H2NC6H4PPh2)(2)] underwent a novel, facil e rearrangement in benzene to give cis-[PtMe(2-HNC6H4PPh2)(2-H2NC6H4PP h2)] with concomitant loss of methane. The molecular structure of the demethylated complex has been confirmed by an X-ray analysis. Mono(bid entate ligand)platinum(II) complexes of the type [PtCl(Me)L] (where L = 2-H2NC6H4-PPhR and R = Me or Ph) have been prepared by treating the appropriate ligand with [PtCl(Me)(cod)] in dichloromethane. Further re action with HCl gave the dichloroplatinum(II) complexes [PtCl2L]. Subs titution of the chloro groups in [MCl2L] (where M = Pd-II or Pt-II, L 2-H2NC6H4PPhR and R = Me or Ph) can be achieved by reaction with silve r nitrate in acetonitrile followed by the addition of sodium oxalate t o give the complexes [M(C2O4)L]. These mono(bidentate ligand) complexe s are seen as potential anticancer agents. Preliminary biological stud ies have shown them to be active against the mouse tumour model P815 i n vitro with cytotoxicities of: certain of these complexes being compa rable to that of cisplatin, cis-[PtCl2(NH3)(2)].