Oxidation of Organoplatinum(II) by Coordinated Dimethylsulfoxide: Metal−Metal Bonded, Dinuclear, Liquid-Crystalline Complexes of Platinum(III)

Reaction of [PtCl2(dmso)2] with 2,5-(dialkoxyphenyl)pyridine in HOAc leads to a dinuclear, acetate-bridged, metal−metal bonded complex of platinum(III); dmso in the presence of acid is found to be responsible for the oxidation. The dimer is analogous structurally to PdIII dimers implicated in catalytic acetoxylation. Platinum dimers with longer alkoxy chains are shown to be unique examples of liquid crystals of platinum(III).