Metals in organic syntheses IX. The isolation and molecular structure of trans-[PtCl(COC6H13-n)(PPh3)2, an intermediate precursor in the catalytic hydroformylation of 1-Hexene.

The complex trans-[PtCl(COC6H13-n)(PPh3)2] (I) has been synthesized by treating cis-[PtCl2(PPh3)2] and 1-hexene with carbon monoxide under pressure in EtOH at 100°C. When in combination with SnCl2•2H2O, complex I is an intermediate precursor in the highly regioselective catalytic hydroformylation of 1-hexene, which readily occurs in a solvent such as a ketone. The crystal and molecular structure of complex (I) has been determined from three dimensional X-ray diffractometer data. The complex crystallizes in the triclinic space group P . Cell parameters are as follows: a =15.869(8), b =12.306(8), c =11.437(7) Å, α= 109.8(1), β= 76.6(1), γ =112.9(1)°, Z =2. Full matrix least-squares refinement converged at R =0.058 (Rw =0.064). The structure has approximately square planar geometry, and shows no unusual dimensions.