Addition of Methanol to Nonactivated Internal Alkynes Catalyzed by Dichloro(diphosphine)platinum(II) Complex/Silver Salt Systems

Nucleophilic addition of methanol to nonactivated alkynes is catalyzed by platinum phosphine complexes derived from PtCl 2 (ligand) ligand = 2PPh 3, 2PPh 2 Me, diphos, dppt (1,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane) and a silver salt AgPF 6 or AgOTf (silver trifluoromethanesulfonate) producing ketones in high yields. The catalytic activity is influenced by the phosphine ligand as well as by the anion and the ratio of the dichloroplatinum complex to the silver salt.