Question

A platinum compound is thought to be [Pt(PF3)(PMe3)(NCS)2]. What is a possible structure and what is the Pt electron count? What information could you obtain about the structure of the compound via NMR spectroscopy?

Answer 1

The structure of platinum complex [Pt(PF3)(PMe3)(NCS)2] is square planar. because in this complex Pt coordination number is 4, and Pt is the d⁸ system. and generally, all d⁸ complex is stable in square planar geometry.

Electron count in this complex:

Pt ⁺² = 5d⁸ 6s⁰

electron donation from PF3 is 2, from PMe3 is 2 and from NCS is 2,

so total electron would be 8+2+2+4 = 16.

so given complex is 16 electron square planar.

Via 19 F NMR spectroscopy, we can get the coupling between Pt and PF3.