Currently, one of our primary focuses is on the organometallic chemistry of platinum.

Over the years, highlights have included:

The activation of C-H bonds remote from the expected point of attack (publication 6):

Later work investigated the balance between carbene and zwitterionic structures (publication 23)

The high yield synthesis of CNC pincer complexes, and the elucidation of the mechanism (publications 7 and 8):

The contrasting behaviour of Pt and Pd towards cyclometallation and the role of solid state interactions (publications 11 and 12).

The oxidation of Pt(II) to, and C-H activation by Pt(IV), together with the synthesis of new mixed ligand complexes and isomerisations (publications 26 and 28):

 

The contolled synthesis of mixed ligand NHC complexes of platinum (publication 28).

The isolation of a bifurcated agostic complex of Pt(II):

the delicate balance between sp2 and sp3 C-H activation:

and the double activation of an organic ligand (publication 30).

The ability to oxidise this Pt(II) agostic to give a Pt(IV) agostic complex:

and the ability of an agostic interaction to displace a more conventional ligand (publication 36)

Solvent switching of cyclometallation (publication 38):

The first definitive example of a concerted mechanism for alkyl chloride reductive elimination (publication 43):

Competition between aryl and alkyl chloride coupling (publication 44)

Intramolecular transcyclometallation (publication 51):