Novel cis- and trans-(silyl)(methyl)platinum(II) complexes were prepar
ed and their reactivity toward reductive elimination was examined. Tre
atment of trans-PtCl(SiPh(3))(PMePh(2))(2) (1) with an excess amount o
f MeLi in THF followed by methanolysis of the reaction system gave cis
-PtMe(SiPh(3))(PMePh(2))(2) (2), selectively. On the other hand, react
ion of 1 with Me(2)Mg in THF formed trans-PtMe(SiPh(3))(PMePh(2))(2) (
3). The structure of cis-2 was determined by X-ray diffraction study.
Crystal data for cis-2.Et(2)O: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 16
.113(3) Angstrom, b = 11.354(3) Angstrom, c = 25.216(2) Angstrom, beta
= 104.73(1)degrees, V = 4461(1) Angstrom(3), Z = 4, d(calcd) = 1.405
g cm(-3), R = 0.038, R(w) = 0.033, S = 1.72. Thermolysis of 2 and 3 re
adily proceeded in a benzene solution to yield quantitative amounts of
MeSiPh(3) as the reductive elimination product. Kinetic studies on th
e thermolysis of cis-2 revealed that the reductive elimination is pred
ominantly initiated by dissociation of the PMePh(2) ligand and acceler
ated by acetylenes and olefins added to the system.