Formation of P-C bond through reductive coupling between bridging phosphido and benzoquinolinate groups. Isolation of complexes of the Pt(II)/Pt(IV)/Pt(II) sequence.

The rational synthesis of dinuclear asymmetric phosphanido derivatives of palladium and platinum(II), [NBu(4)][(R(F))(2)M(μ-PPh(2))(2)M'(κ(2),N,C-C(13)H(8)N)] (R(F) = C(6)F(5); M = M' = Pt, 1; M = Pt, M' = Pd, 2; M = Pd, M' = Pt, 3; M = M' = Pd, 4), is described. Addition of I(2) to 1-4 gives complexes [(R(F))(2)M(II)(μ-PPh(2))(μ-I)Pd(II){PPh(2)(C(13)H(8)N)}] (M = M' = Pt, 6; M = Pt, M' = Pd, 7; M = M' = Pd, 8; M = Pd, M' = Pt 10) which contain the aminophosphane PPh(2)(C(13)H(8)N) ligand formed through a Ph(2)P/C^N reductive coupling on the mixed valence M(II)-M'(IV) [NBu(4)][(R(F))(2)M(II)(μ-PPh(2))(2)M'(IV)(κ(2),N,C- C(13)H(8)N)I(2)] complexes, which were identified for M(II) = Pd, M'(IV) = Pt (9), and isolated for M(II) = Pt, M'(IV) = Pt (5). Complex 5 showed an unusual dynamic behavior consisting in the exchange of two phenyl groups bonded to different P atoms, as well as a "through space" spin-spin coupling between ortho-F atoms of the pentafluorophenyl rings.