Direct synthesis of (imine)platinum(II) complexes by iminoacylation of ketoximes with activated organonitrile ligands.

The metal-mediated iminoacylation of ketoximes R1R2C=NOH (1a R1 = R2 = Me; 1b R1 = Me, R2 = Et; 1c R1R2 = C4H8; 1d R1R2 = C5H10) upon treatment with the platinum(II) complex trans-[PtCl2(NCCH2CO2Me)2] 2a with an organonitrile bearing an acceptor group proceeds under mild conditions in dry CH2Cl2 to give the trans-[PtCl2{NH=C(CH2CO2Me)ON=CR1R2}2] 3a-d isomers in moderate yield. The reaction of those ketoximes with trans-[PtCl2(NCCH2Cl)2] 2b under the same experimental conditions gives a 1 : 1 mixture of the isomers trans/cis-[PtCl2{NH=C(CH2Cl)ON=CR1R2}2] 3e-h and 4e-h in moderate to good yield. These reactions are greatly accelerated by microwave irradiation to give, with higher yields (ca. 75%), the same products which were characterized by IR and 1H, 13C and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies, FAB-MS, elemental analysis for the stable trans isomers, and X-ray diffraction analysis (3f). The diiminoester ligand in 3a was liberated upon reaction of the complex with a diphosphine.