Mono- and bis-
1-ketenyl Pt(II) complexes have been synthesized by reacting Zeise's saltor the related dimeric compound, [{PtCl
2(C
2H
4)}
2], with the oxocumulenic ylide ketenylidenetriphenylphosphorane, Ph
3PC=C=O,
1, in suitable ratios. In particular, the
1-ketenylderivative,
trans-[PtCl
2(C
2H
4){
1-C(PPh
3)CO}],
2, has been isolated and characterized. Thereaction of
2 with one more equivalent of
1 displaces the coordinated ethylene giving thefirst stable bis-
1-ketenyl derivative,
trans-[PtCl
2{
1-C(PPh
3)CO}
2],
6. The X-ray crystalstructure of
6 shows a trans centrosymmetric geometry around Pt, with the PCCO moietyand the metal lying in a plane that forms an angle of ~65
![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
with the Pt(II) coordinationplane. Density functional calculations indicate that steric effects play a leading role indetermining such an arrangement. Data on the reactivity of
2 and
6 are also reported.