Reduced and Superreduced Diplatinum Complexes

Abstract

A d^8–d^8 complex [Pt_2(μ-P_2O_5(BF_2)_4]^(4–) (abbreviated Pt(pop-BF_2)^(4–)) undergoes two 1e– reductions at E_(1/2) = −1.68 and E_p = −2.46 V (vs Fc+/Fc) producing reduced Pt(pop-BF_2)^(5–) and superreduced Pt(pop-BF_2)^(6–) species, respectively. The EPR spectrum of Pt(pop-BF_2)^(5–) and UV–vis spectra of both the reduced and the superreduced complexes, together with TD-DFT calculations, reveal successive filling of the 6pσ orbital accompanied by gradual strengthening of Pt–Pt bonding interactions and, because of 6pσ delocalization, of Pt–P bonds in the course of the two reductions. Mayer–Millikan Pt–Pt bond orders of 0.173, 0.268, and 0.340 were calculated for the parent, reduced, and superreduced complexes, respectively. The second (5–/6−) reduction is accompanied by a structural distortion that is experimentally manifested by electrochemical irreversibility. Both reduction steps proceed without changing either d^8 Pt electronic configuration, making the superreduced Pt(pop-BF_2)^(6–) a very rare 6p^2 σ-bonded binuclear complex. However, the Pt–Pt σ bonding interaction is limited by the relatively long bridging-ligand-imposed Pt–Pt distance accompanied by repulsive electronic congestion. Pt(pop-BF_2)^(4–) is predicted to be a very strong photooxidant (potentials of +1.57 and +0.86 V are estimated for the singlet and triplet dσ*pσ excited states, respectively).