Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have successfully stabilized extremely unstable anionic Pt(0) complexes using the electron-accepting properties of boron compounds. These anionic complexes, which involve group 10 metals, are of significant interest for their potential as catalysts due to their high reactivity, particularly in platinum. However, prior to this study, their molecular structures were unknown and their synthesis had been largely unachievable. The research team, which included Associate Professor Hajime Kameo and Professor Hiroyuki Matsuzaka, in collaboration with CNRS Senior Researcher Didier Bourissou, has elucidated the structures of these anionic Pt(0) complexes for the first time. The stabilization of these complexes, which are typically unstable due to their electron-donating nature, was achieved through the incorporation of boron compounds as electron acceptors. Professor Kameo emphasized that this breakthrough not only enhances the understanding of these highly reactive species but also paves the way for the development of innovative catalytic reactions. The findings are documented in the study titled “Square-Planar Anionic Pt0 Complexes,” published in February 2023 in Angewandte Chemie International Edition. The research received funding from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
