Transition metal complexes incorporating the BF2 ligand formed by oxidative addition of the B–B bond in B2F4

The reactions between B2F4 and the platinum and iridium complexes [Pt(PPh3)2(η-C2H4)], [Pt(dppb)(η-C2H4)] [dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane] and trans-[IrCl(CO)(PPh3)2] afforded the difluoroboryl complexes cis-[Pt(BF2)2(PPh3)2], cis-[Pt(BF2)2(dppb)] and fac-[Ir(BF2)3(CO)(PPh3)2] respectively all of which have been characterised by X-ray crystallography. The isoelectronic platinum dppb nitrito complex cis-[Pt(NO2)2(dppb)] has also been prepared and structurally characterised.