Oxidation of phenyl PtII complexes K[(dpms)PtIIPh2], 1, (dpms)PtIIPh(MeOH), 2, (dpms)PtIIPh(OH2), 3, and methyl PtII complex (dpms)PtIIMe(NH2Ph), 6, with O2 in aqueous or methanol solutions under ambient conditions leads to corresponding (dpms)PtIVR(X)OH complexes (R = X = Ph, 7; R = Ph, X = OH, 8; R = Ph, X = OMe, 9; R = Me, X = NHPh; 11; dpms = di(2-pyridyl)methanesulfonate). Complexes 7–9 could be isolated in high yield. Complex 11 as well as its phenyl analogue (dpms)PtIVPh(NHPh)OH, 10 can be prepared in high yield by oxidation of corresponding (dpms)PtIIR(NH2Ph) with H2O2 in methanol. Phenyl PtII complexes (dpms)PtIIPh(HX) derived from HX = aniline and DMSO, 4 and 5, respectively, are inert toward O2. The rate of oxidation of 1–5 with O2 decreases in the order 1 > 3 ~ 2 » 4, and 5 is unreactive. Methyl analogues are significantly more reactive compared with their phenyl counterparts. Proposed mechanism of oxidation with O2 includes formation of anionic species (dpms)PtIIR(X)– responsible for reaction with dioxygen. Attempts at C–O and C–N reductive elimination from phenyl PtIV complexes 7–10 do not lead to phenyl derivatives PhX at 80–100 °C, consistent with the results of the DFT estimates of corresponding activation barriers, ΔG0 exceeding 28 kcal/mol.Key words: platinum phenyl complexes, oxidation, dioxygen, aqueous solution, mechanism.
