LAUSR

Abstract The oxidative addition reactions of platinum(II) complexes [PtMe 2 (RN=CH-2-C 5 H 4 N)], especially when R = CH 2 CH 2 OH or CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH, have been studied. Both complexes react with R’X (MeI or PhCH 2 Br) by trans oxidative addition to give [PtXMe 2 R′(RN=CH-2-C 5 H 4 N)]. They also react with oxygen in methanol solution or with hydrogen peroxide to give [Pt(OH)(OMe)Me 2 (RN=CH-2-C 5 H 4 N)] or [Pt(OH) 2 Me 2 (RN=CH-2-C 5 H 4 N)], respectively, but the reactions are complicated in the case with R = (CH 2 ) 3 OH by partial cyclization of the imine ligand to give the corresponding oxazine complex. When R = CH 2 CH 2 OH, the complex [PtMe 2 (RN=CH-2-C 5 H 4 N)] reacts with oxygen in acetone solution to give the platinum(IV) complex [Pt(OH)Me 2 {κ 3 - N , N , O -RNH-CH(2-C 5 H 4 N)(CH CMeO)}], but no reaction occurs when R = CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH or CH 2 CH 2 NMe 2 . It is suggested that the hydroxyethyl substituent plays a key role in the dioxygen activation and subsequent reactions of a coordinated acetone molecule.