Mechanism of aminocarbene formation by nucleophilic attack on isocyanide ligands in platinum(II)2-pyrazyl and 4-pyridyl complexes

Abstract The reactions of 2-pyrazyl and 4-pyridyl isocyanide complexes [Pt(CNC 6 H 11 )(C 4 H 3 N 2 - C 2 )(dppe)ClO 4 and [Pt(CNC 6 H 11 )(C 5 H 4 N- C 4 ) (dppe)]ClO 4 ( 1 ) with amines involving the formation of aminocarbene derivatives have been studied kinetically in 1,2-dichloroethane by UV—VIS techniques. The kinetics obey the simple second-order rate law rate = k 2 [ 1 ][amine]. Low activation enthalpies and highly negative activation entropies for the k 2 term are observed. A mechanism is proposed involving direct nucleophilic attack of the amine on the isocyanide carbon with concomitant proton transfer from the amine to the isocyanide nitrogen assisted by the heterocyclic nitrogen…