Unexpected Photoisomerization of a Pincer-type Amido Ligand Leads to Facial Coordination at Pt(IV)

The divalent complex (BQA)PtMe undergoes oxidative addition with MeI to afford the octahedral complex cis-(mer-BQA)PtMe2I {(BQA)- = bis(8-quinolinyl)amide}. When this molecule is irradiated with visible light, it isomerizes to (fac-BQA)PtMe2I, where the BQA ligand adopts an unexpected facial coordination mode. The amide nitrogen in this molecule is sp3 hybridized and can be easily quarternized with HBF4, resulting in [H(fac-BQA)PtMe2I][BF4], with only minor perturbation to the coordination sphere.