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Updated: May 8, 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
True and masked three-coordinate T-shaped platinum(II) intermediates
Manuel A Ortuño1, Salvador Conejero, Agustí Lledós
1Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
This review explores three-coordinate platinum(II) complexes, often masked, as crucial intermediates in platinum-mediated reactions like C-H activation, despite square-planar geometries dominating isolated complexes.
Area of Science:
- Organometallic Chemistry
- Coordination Chemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Four-coordinate square-planar platinum(II) complexes (16-electron) are dominant.
- Three-coordinate platinum(II) complexes (14-electron) are proposed key intermediates in organometallic transformations.
- Few authenticated three-coordinate Pt(II) complexes exist, but many are 'masked' with weak ligands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the structural characteristics of true and masked T-shaped Pt(II) complexes.
- To outline synthetic strategies for their formation.
- To analyze their proposed involvement in reaction mechanisms, especially C-H activation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of structural data for T-shaped Pt(II) complexes.
- Analysis of synthetic methodologies for preparing these complexes.
- Survey of experimental and theoretical studies on reaction mechanisms involving Pt(II) intermediates.
Main Results:
- Summarizes structural features of characterized and operationally three-coordinate Pt(II) complexes.
- Details synthetic approaches for accessing these species.
- Highlights evidence for their role in C-H bond activation and other transformations.
Conclusions:
- Three-coordinate Pt(II) complexes, including masked variants, are important in platinum catalysis.
- Their structural characterization and synthesis are advancing understanding of reaction mechanisms.
- These intermediates are particularly relevant for C-H bond activation processes.
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