C-H Activation reactions at neutral cyclometalated Pt complexes

The Tilset group has made important contributions towards selective C-H activation and functionalization at platinum complexes in solution and, recently, in development of novel Pt-containing metal-organic frameworks that may be of interest for catalytic applications. One drawback (this applies to homogeneous systems and even more so to heterogeneous MOF systems) of the Pt complexes studied so far is that C-H activation at Pt(II) complexes requires electrophilic activation of synthesized complexes, usuall y by protonolysis, to generate cationic C-H activating species. In this project, we seek to avoid the need for electrophilic activation by designing new cyclometallated heteroaromatic ligand systems. These ligands are formally monoanionic and the C-H acti vating species will be neutral. Closely related ligands may be used for homogeneous studies and for MOF synthesis. The approach of using monoanionic ligands will have positive consequences for the study of C-H activation in solution, and will significantl y aid our efforts towards constructing catalytically active MOFs.