The photochemistry of the diphosphino Pt(II) hydrides [LPtH
2] (L=(t-Bu)
2P(CH
2)
2P(t-Bu)
2 (
7); L=(t-Bu)
2P(CH
2)
3P(t-Bu)
2 (
8);L=(t-Bu)(Ph)P(CH
2)
2P(Ph)(t-Bu) (
9)) is reported. The primary photoevent is the dissociation of H
2 and formation of the 14-e [LPt] species. These coordinatively unsaturated intermediates provide a versatile entry point into the C
![](/images/glyphs/BO7.GIF)
H bond activation of hydrocarbons. [LPt] reacts with benzene in an oxidative addition reaction to yield [LPt(H)(C
6H
5)] complexes. The importance of the metal centre and ancillary ligation in the C
![](/images/glyphs/BO7.GIF)
H bond activation is discussed.