X–CNN (X = Br, Cl) ligands were reacted with Pt2Me4 (μ-SMe2) 2, 1, resulting in a six-coordinate cyclometalated platinum (IV) compound containing an anionic CNN ligand when X = Br and both a platinum (IV) and a platinum (II) product when X = Cl. The platinum (II) species was formed by C–H activation, followed by reductive elimination of methane. The platinum compounds were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). Photophysical properties were explored by using UV/vis, emission, and transient absorption (TA) spectroscopies. DFT and TDDFT calculations were performed to examine the competition between C–H activation and C–X oxidative addition and compared to experimental results.
Anderson et al. (Tue,) studied this question.