Heterobimetallic lantern complexes that couple antiferromagnetically through noncovalent Pt···Pt interactions
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Updated: May 12, 2026

Amide Coupling Reaction for the Synthesis of Bispyridine-based Ligands and Their Complexation to Platinum as Dinuclear Anticancer Agents
Published on: May 28, 2014
Frederick G Baddour1, Stephanie R Fiedler, Matthew P Shores
1Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States.
Abstract:
A series of Pt-based heterobimetallic lantern complexes of the form [PtM(SAc)4(OH2)] (M = Co, 1; Ni, 2; Zn, 3) were prepared using a facile, single-step procedure. These hydrated species were reacted with 3-nitropyridine (3-NO2py) to prepare three additional lantern complexes, [PtM(SAc)4(3-NO2py)] (M = Co, 4; Ni, 5; Zn, 6), or alternatively dried in vacuo to the dehydrated species [PtM(SAc)4] (M = Co, 7; Ni, 8; Zn, 9). The Co- and Ni-containing species exhibit Pt-M bonding in solution and the solid state. In the structurally characterized compounds 1-6, the lantern units form dimers in the solid state via a short Pt···Pt metallophilic interaction. Antiferromagnetic coupling between 3d metal ions in the solid state through noncovalent metallophilic interactions was observed for all the paramagnetic lantern complexes prepared, with J-coupling values of -12.7 cm(-1) (1), -50.8 cm(-1) (2), -6.0 cm(-1) (4), and -12.6 cm(-1) (5). The Zn complexes 3 and 6 also form solid-state dimers, indicating that the formation of short Pt···Pt interactions in these complexes is not predicated on the presence of a paramagnetic 3d metal ion. These contacts and the resultant antiferromagnetic coupling are also not unique to heterobimetallic lantern complexes with axially coordinated H2O or the previously reported thiobenzoate supporting ligand.
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