Carbonylation of platinum and palladium organo-complexes

Acyl derivatives of the type trans-[MX(COR)(PEt3)2](M = Pt or Pd; X = Cl, Br, or I; R = Me, Et, or Ph) have been prepared by the action of carbon monoxide on alkyl and aryl derivatives of the type [MXR(PEt3)2]. Carbon monoxide reacts with the complex cis-[PtMe2(PEt3)2] to give a novel carbonyl complex [Pt3(CO)n(PEt3)4](n= 3 or 4) and biacetyl. Other related disubstituted derivatives gave either unstable or intractable products. Some alkyl and aryl platinum and palladium derivatives were too unstable to be carbonylated, or gave carbonylated products too unstable to isolate.