Ethylenebis(triphenylphosphine)platinum as a Probe for Niobium-Mediated Diphosphorus Chemistry

Ethylenebis(triphenylphosphine)platinum is used as a trap for the P2-containing molecule W(CO)5(P2), which is
eliminated at room temperature from a niobium-complexed diphosphaazide ligand. The rate of W(CO)5(P2) elimination
is unaffected by the presence of the platinum species. Attempts to generate and trap free P2 with the platinum
ethylene complex were hindered by the direct reaction between the platinum starting material and the P2 generator,
(Mes*NPP)Nb(N[Np]Ar)3. In this case, reductive cleavage of the P−P bond in the diphosphaazide ligand is induced
by platinum coordination, resulting in the formation of a trimetallic system with two bridging, three-coordinate
phosphorus atoms.