Synthesis and novel reactivity of platinum phosphine–borane complexes trans-[PtH(PPhR·BH3)(PEt3)2] (R = H, Ph)

The oxidative-addition reaction of Pt(PEt3)3 with the phosphine–borane adducts PhPH2·BH3 and Ph2PH·BH3 leads to regioselective insertion of the Pt(PEt3)2 fragment into the P–H bond to afford the hydride complexes trans-[PtH(PPhR·BH3)(PEt3)2 ] (R = H 1, R = Ph 2); reaction of 2 with PhPH2·BH3 leads to an unusual ligand exchange reaction which generates 1 and Ph2PH·BH3.