Tris(triphenylphosphine)platinum(0) is the coordination compound with the formula Pt(P(C6H5)3)3, often abbreviated Pt(PPh3)3. The golden-orange compound is used as a precursor to other platinum complexes.
Structure The PtP3 core of the molecule is planar. According to X-ray crystallography, the Pt–P distances are 226 picometers, which are 10 pm shorter than ing the more crowded tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)platinum(0)
Synthesis and reactions The complex is typically prepared by recrystallizing tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)platinum from hot ethanol. This 16-electron complex binds triphenylphosphine to give the 18-electron derivative tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)platinum(0), which is tetrahedral:
Pt[P(C6H5)3]3 + P(C6H5)3 ⇌ Pt[P(C6H5)3]4 The complex reacts very similarly to tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)platinum to give platinum(II) derivatives:
Pt[P(C6H5)3]3 + Cl2 → PtCl2[P(C6H5)3]2 + P(C6H5)3 Bronsted acids give the corresponding hydride complexes:
Pt[P(C6H5)3]3 + HCl → PtHCl[P(C6H5)3]2 + P(C6H5)3 The reaction with oxygen affords a dioxygen complex:
Pt[P(C6H5)3]3 + O2 → Pt(O2)[P(C6H5)3]2 + P(C6H5)3
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