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Tuning Reactivity of Platinum(II) Complexes

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However, because the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) on the metal atom<br />

are centred on the dz 2 orbitals whilst the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO)<br />

are located on the N-heterocyclic ligand that is lying perpendicular to the plane <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Pt(<strong>II</strong>) centre. Moreover, in the complexes qzn and pht, the HOMO orbitals are<br />

concentrated on the N-heterocyclic ligands and display a significantly higher energy<br />

HOMO level, which suggests that the extra aromatic ring on the benzodiazine ligand<br />

enables qzn and pht to possess better π-acceptor ability due to the extended π-system.<br />

This is supported by the smaller HOMO-LUMO (ΔE) energy gap (Table 5.1). Compared<br />

to that <strong>of</strong> pzn, the electron-acceptor properties <strong>of</strong> qzn and pht are only moderate since<br />

their LUMO is not as low in energy.<br />

It can also be seen from the DFT-calculations (Table 5.1) that the positive (NBO) charges<br />

at the Pt(<strong>II</strong>) centres are symmetrically distributed. Their values steadily increase as the<br />

(N1–N2) and Pt---Pt distances increase further along the series pht through pdn, to pzn,<br />

respectively. In addition, the corresponding Pt–N1/2 bond distances are also dependent<br />

on the structure <strong>of</strong> the diazine ligand, which also determines the average negative<br />

charge carried on the N1/2 atoms <strong>of</strong> the bridging ligands due to electronic charge<br />

transfer from the metal centre to the diazine ligand through the electronegative N<br />

atoms. This results in differential transfer <strong>of</strong> electron density from the metal centre to<br />

the diazine ligand, leading to variations in the positive charge on the metal centres and<br />

hence, in the electrophilicity <strong>of</strong> the Pt(<strong>II</strong>) centres. This simultaneously decreases or<br />

increases the lability <strong>of</strong> the aqua complexes as will be discussed further.<br />

5.3.2 Acid Dissociation Constants (pKa) <strong>of</strong> the Diaqua <strong>Complexes</strong><br />

Titrations <strong>of</strong> the diazine-bridged dinuclear Pt(<strong>II</strong>) complexes with NaOH show that<br />

deprotonation <strong>of</strong> the two aqua ligands occurred in two successive steps. Thus, the<br />

stepwise deprotonation steps for the pH dependence <strong>of</strong> the dinuclear system can be<br />

presented by Scheme 5.2.<br />

12

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