-OXIDATION-STATE OF PLATINUM IN DINUCLEAR COMPLEXES WITH THYMINE NUCLEOBASES - STRUCTURAL AND SOLUTION STUDIES(3)

A series of diplatinum(III) complexes containing two bridging 1-methyl thyminato (1-MeT) and 1-ethylthyminato (1-EtT) nucleobase ligands in a head-head orientation has been prepared and/or studied in solution. T he compounds are of general composition [Xa(2)PtL(2)Pta(2)Y](n+) and [ Xa(2)PtL(2)PtCl(2)Y](n+) with a = NH3 or CH3NH2, L = thymine nucleobas e, and X, Y being axial ligands such as NO2, Cl-, H2O or no ligand at all. Full crystallographic details of two compounds and preliminary da ta of two additional representatives are given. Synthetic procedures a re sometimes poorly reproducible as a consequence of ready substitutio n reactions of the axial ligands. X-ray crystallography is frequently the only reliable method in establishing the nature of X and Y ligands . The potential usefulness of radial distribution functions (RDFs) of atoms in powder samples for characterizing diplatinum(III) complexes i s briefly discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.