Unprecedented trigonal bipyramidal Pt(II) complexes containing two eta
(1)-C-bonded groups in axial position have been isolated. The compound
s of general formula [Pt{CHR(R')}(R '')(dmphen)(olefin)] or [Pt(CH2NO2
)(R '')dmphen)(olefin)] (dmphen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline; R,
R' = CO(2)Me, COMe, CN; R ''=Me, CH(2)Ph) are obtained by reacting the
cationic precursors [Pt(R '')-L(dmphen)(olefin)](+) (L = MeCN, H2O) w
ith KCH2NO2 or KR(R')CH. The beta-dicarbonyl ligands are C-bonded and
can be selectively removed by treatment with protic acids.