IChO 2014 · Theory problem 4

Zeise’s salt

Zeise's salt, \(\ce{K[PtCl3C2H4]}\), was one of the first organometallic compounds to be reported. W. C. Zeise, a professor at the University of Copenhagen, prepared this compound in 1827 by reacting \(\ce{PtCl4}\) with boiling ethanol and then adding potassium chloride (Method 1). This compound may also be prepared by refluxing a mixture of \(\ce{K2[PtCl6]}\) and ethanol (Method 2). The commercially available Zeise's salt is commonly prepared from \(\ce{K2[PtCl4]}\) and ethylene (Method 3).

4.1 Write balanced equations for each of the above mentioned preparations of Zeise's salt, given that in methods 1 and 2 the formation of 1 mole of Zeise’s salt consumes 2 moles of ethanol.

4.2 Mass spectrometry of the anion \(\ce{[PtCl3C2H4]-}\) shows one set of peaks with mass numbers 325-337 \(au\) and various intensities. Calculate the mass number of the anion which consists of the largest natural abundance isotopes (using given below data).

Isotope \(\ce{^{192}_{78}Pt}\) \(\ce{^{194}_{78}Pt}\) \(\ce{^{195}_{78}Pt}\) \(\ce{^{196}_{78}Pt}\) \(\ce{^{198}_{78}Pt}\) \(\ce{^{35}_{17}Cl}\) \(\ce{^{37}_{17}Cl}\) \(\ce{^{12}_{6}C}\) \(\ce{^{13}_{6}C}\) \(\ce{^{1}_{1}H}\)
Natural abundance, % 0.8 32.9 33.8 25.3 7.2 75.8 24.2 98.9 1.1 99.99

Some early structures proposed for Zeise’s salt anion were:

Figure 1

In structure Z1, Z2, and Z5 both carbons are in the same plane as dashed square.

[You should assume that these structures do not undergo any fluxional process by interchanging two or more sites.]

NMR spectroscopy allowed the structure for Zeise’s salt to be determined as structure Z4.

4.3 For each structure Z1 – Z5, indicate in the table below how many hydrogen atoms are in different environments, and how many different environments of hydrogen atoms there are, and how many different environments of carbon atoms there are?

Structure Number of different environments of hydrogen Number of different environments of carbon
Z1
Z2
Z3
Z4
Z5

For substitution reactions of square platinum(II) complexes, ligands may be arranged in order of their tendency to facilitate substitution in the position trans to themselves (the trans effect). The ordering of ligands is:

\[ \ce{CO},\ \ce{CN-},\ \ce{C2H4} > \ce{PR3},\ \ce{H-} > \ce{CH3-},\ \ce{C6H5-},\ \ce{I-},\ \ce{SCN-} > \ce{Br-} > \ce{Cl-} > \mathrm{Py} > \ce{NH3} > \ce{OH-},\ \ce{H2O} \]

In above series a left ligand has a stronger trans effect than that of the right ligand.

Some reactions of Zeise’s salt and the complex \(\ce{[Pt2Cl4(C2H4)2]}\) are given below.

Figure 2

4.4 Draw the structure of A, given that the molecule of this complex has a centre of symmetry, no Pt-Pt bond, and no bridging alkene.

4.5 Draw the structures of B, C, D, E, F and G.

4.6 Suggest the driving force(s) for the formation of D and F by choosing one or more of the following statements (for example, i and ii):

i) formation of gas,
ii) formation of liquid,
iii) trans effect,
iv) chelate effect.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 4.1

Method 1: \[ \ce{PtCl4 + 2C2H5OH + KCl -> K[PtCl3(C2H4)] + CH3CHO + H2O + 2HCl} \]

Method 2: \[ \ce{K2[PtCl6] + 2C2H5OH -> K[PtCl3(C2H4)] + KCl + CH3CHO + H2O + 2HCl} \]

Method 3: \[ \ce{K2[PtCl4] + C2H4 -> K[PtCl3(C2H4)] + KCl} \]

  • 4.2 The isotopes are \(\ce{^{195}Pt}\), \(\ce{^{35}Cl}\), \(\ce{^{12}C}\), and \(\ce{^{1}H}\). The mass number is \(328\), corresponding to a nominal mass of \(328\,\mathrm{u}\).

  • 4.3

Structure Number of H environments H atoms in each environment Number of C environments
Z1 2 \(2+2\) 2
Z2 2 \(3+1\) 2
Z3 2 \(2+2\) 2
Z4 1 \(4\) 1
Z5 2 \(2+2\) 1
  • 4.4 A is Zeise’s dimer, \(\ce{[Pt2Cl4(C2H4)2]}\): two chloride bridges join the Pt atoms. Each Pt additionally carries one terminal chloride and one terminal \(\eta^2\)-ethene. The two halves are related by inversion; there is no Pt–Pt bond.

  • 4.5 All Pt centers have square-planar arrangements of four ligand sites. Every alkene is coordinated through its double bond, \(\eta^2\).

Product Formula Required arrangement
B \(\ce{[PtCl2(C2H4)(CH3NH2)]}\) Methylamine trans to ethene; chlorides mutually trans
C \(\ce{[PtCl2(C2H4)(C6H5NH2)]}\) Aniline trans to ethene; chlorides mutually trans
D \(\ce{K[PtCl3(C6H5CH=CH2)]}\) Styrene occupies the alkene site of Zeise’s salt
E \(\ce{[PtCl2(C6H5CH=CH2)(Py)]}\) Pyridine trans to styrene; chlorides mutually trans
F \(\ce{[PtCl(C2H4)(H2NCH2CH2NH2)]Cl}\) The two N donors are cis; ethene and coordinated chloride are cis
G \(\ce{[PtCl2(C2H4)2]}\) Ethenes mutually trans; chlorides mutually trans

Names and SMILES are given with the structural explanations below.

  • 4.6 D: i only. F: iii and iv.

Solution

The coordination SMILES below use the dative-bond extension -> or <-. Two carbon-to-Pt dative bonds represent an \(\eta^2\)-alkene, which occupies one ligand site. The required coordination geometry is specified in words because these strings do not encode it. Formula-unit SMILES for inorganic compounds do not specify their crystal structures.

4.1 — Preparation of Zeise’s salt

In methods 1 and 2, platinum is reduced from oxidation state \(+4\) to \(+2\). Of the two ethanol molecules consumed:

  • One is oxidized to ethanal, supplying the two electrons required for this reduction.
  • One supplies ethene by loss of water.

Thus the balanced overall equations are:

\[ \boxed{\ce{ PtCl4 + 2C2H5OH + KCl -> K[PtCl3(C2H4)] + CH3CHO + H2O + 2HCl }} \]

\[ \boxed{\ce{ K2[PtCl6] + 2C2H5OH -> K[PtCl3(C2H4)] + KCl + CH3CHO + H2O + 2HCl }} \]

Each equation consumes exactly two ethanol molecules per formula unit of Zeise’s salt. For example, the twelve ethanol hydrogen atoms appear as four in coordinated ethene, four in ethanal, two in water, and two in hydrogen chloride.

Method 3 is ligand substitution without a change in the platinum oxidation state: ethene replaces one coordinated chloride.

\[ \boxed{\ce{ K2[PtCl4] + C2H4 -> K[PtCl3(C2H4)] + KCl }} \]

The species used in these equations are:

Species Name SMILES
\(\ce{C2H5OH}\) Ethanol CCO
\(\ce{C2H4}\) Ethene, or ethylene C=C
\(\ce{CH3CHO}\) Ethanal, or acetaldehyde CC=O
\(\ce{H2O}\) Water O
\(\ce{HCl}\) Hydrogen chloride Cl
\(\ce{KCl}\) Potassium chloride [K+].[Cl-]
\(\ce{PtCl4}\) Platinum(IV) chloride [Cl-]->[Pt+4](<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-[Cl-]
\(\ce{K2[PtCl6]}\) Potassium hexachloridoplatinate(IV) [K+].[K+].[Cl-]->[Pt+4](<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-[Cl-]
\(\ce{K2[PtCl4]}\) Potassium tetrachloridoplatinate(II) [K+].[K+].[Cl-]->[Pt+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-[Cl-]
\(\ce{K[PtCl3(C2H4)]}\) Potassium trichlorido(\(\eta^2\)-ethene)platinate(II), Zeise’s salt [K+].C1=C->[Pt+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-1

4.2 — Isotopic mass number

Select the most abundant isotope of each element, rather than using abundance-weighted atomic masses:

Element Selected isotope Given abundance
Pt \(\ce{^{195}Pt}\) \(33.8\%\)
Cl \(\ce{^{35}Cl}\) \(75.8\%\)
C \(\ce{^{12}C}\) \(98.9\%\)
H \(\ce{^{1}H}\) \(99.99\%\)

The mass-number sum is

\[ A=195+3(35)+2(12)+4(1)=\boxed{328}. \]

Mass number is dimensionless; the corresponding nominal ionic mass is \(328\,\mathrm{u}\). An exact isotopic mass cannot be calculated from mass numbers alone.

The selected trichlorido(\(\eta^2\)-ethene)platinate(II) isotopologue anion has the explicitly isotope-labelled SMILES:

[1H][12C]1([1H])=[12C]([1H])([1H])->[195Pt+2](<-[35Cl-])(<-[35Cl-])(<-[35Cl-])<-1

4.3 — NMR environments

Count chemically distinct environments, not the individual lines arising from spin–spin coupling. Symmetry-related nuclei have the same chemical shift in the usual achiral NMR environment.

For reference, the proposed structures have the following connectivity descriptions. In the covalent SMILES for Z1–Z3 and Z5, the Pt formal charge is SMILES bookkeeping, not a statement of its oxidation state.

Structure Name or structural description SMILES
Z1 Proposed dichlorido(2-chloroethyl)platinate anion, chelated through carbon and chlorine C1CCl->[Pt-]1(Cl)Cl
Z2 Proposed trichlorido(ethylidene)platinum anion, with a \(\ce{Pt=CHCH3}\) group CC=[Pt-](Cl)(Cl)Cl
Z3 Proposed trichlorido(ethane-1,2-diyl)platinate anion; a platinacyclopropane with one carbon basal and one apical C1C[Pt-]1(Cl)(Cl)Cl
Z4 Trichlorido(\(\eta^2\)-ethene)platinate(II), the Zeise anion C1=C->[Pt+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-1
Z5 Proposed trichlorido(ethane-1,2-diyl)platinate anion; both carbons basal and one chloride apical C1C[Pt-]1(Cl)(Cl)Cl

The distinction between Z3 and Z5 is geometrical and therefore is not conveyed by their identical connectivity SMILES.

  • Z1: The two carbons have different connectivities: one is bonded directly to Pt, while the other is bonded to the coordinating chlorine. They therefore give two carbon environments. Reflection in the plane of the heavy-atom framework exchanges the two hydrogens on each methylene, giving two hydrogen environments, \(2+2\).

  • Z2: The methyl carbon and the Pt-bound methine carbon are different. The methyl hydrogens form the usual equivalent three-proton set, while the methine hydrogen is distinct. Thus there are two hydrogen environments, \(3+1\), and two carbon environments. Ordinary methyl-group averaging is used here; distinct coordination sites are not interchanged.

  • Z3: One carbon occupies a basal position and the other an apical position, so the carbons are inequivalent. A mirror plane through Pt and the two carbons exchanges the two hydrogens on each carbon. Thus there are two hydrogen environments, \(2+2\), and two carbon environments.

  • Z4: The ethene C–C axis is perpendicular to the square coordination plane. The symmetry operations exchange the two carbons and also the two hydrogens on each carbon. Consequently, all four hydrogens are equivalent, and both carbons are equivalent.

  • Z5: A symmetry plane exchanges the two carbon positions, so there is one carbon environment. However, the apical chloride distinguishes the two sides of the basal plane. Hydrogens on opposite sides are inequivalent, giving two hydrogen environments, \(2+2\).

Therefore:

Structure H environments H atoms per environment C environments
Z1 2 \(2+2\) 2
Z2 2 \(3+1\) 2
Z3 2 \(2+2\) 2
Z4 1 \(4\) 1
Z5 2 \(2+2\) 1

4.4 — Structure of A

Each square-planar Pt center has one ethene ligand and therefore requires three chloride contacts. The two Pt centers require six Pt–Cl contacts in total, but A contains only four chloride atoms.

Let \(b\) be the number of bridging chlorides and \(t\) the number of terminal chlorides. Then

\[ b+t=4,\qquad 2b+t=6, \]

so

\[ b=2,\qquad t=2. \]

Thus A is di-\(\mu\)-chlorido-bis[chlorido(\(\eta^2\)-ethene)platinum(II)], commonly called Zeise’s dimer.

SMILES:

C1=C->[Pt+2]2<-1(<-[Cl-])<-[Cl-]->[Pt+2]3(<-[Cl-])(<-C=C->3)<-[Cl-]->2

To draw it precisely:

  1. Draw a four-membered ring whose successive vertices are \(\mathrm{Pt}_1\), bridging \(\mathrm{Cl}_a\), \(\mathrm{Pt}_2\), and bridging \(\mathrm{Cl}_b\).
  2. Attach one terminal chloride and one terminal \(\eta^2\)-ethene to each Pt.
  3. At \(\mathrm{Pt}_1\), place ethene trans to \(\mathrm{Cl}_a\) and terminal chloride trans to \(\mathrm{Cl}_b\).
  4. At \(\mathrm{Pt}_2\), place ethene trans to \(\mathrm{Cl}_b\) and terminal chloride trans to \(\mathrm{Cl}_a\).

The center of the ring is then an inversion center. The two ethenes are terminal and inversion-related, as are the two terminal chlorides. Do not draw a Pt–Pt bond.

The balanced net formation reaction is

\[ \ce{ 2K[PtCl3(C2H4)] ->[HCl] [Pt2Cl4(C2H4)2] + 2KCl }. \]

Here \(\ce{HCl}\) is the stated reaction condition and is not consumed in the net equation.

4.5 — Structures of B–G

Ethene has a stronger trans effect than chloride. Consequently, substitution preferentially occurs at the chloride site trans to ethene. In A, this is a bridging Pt–Cl bond; its cleavage allows the incoming ligand to occupy that site.

The incoming molecular ligands are:

Ligand Name SMILES
\(\ce{CH3NH2}\) Methylamine CN
\(\ce{C6H5NH2}\) Aniline Nc1ccccc1
\(\ce{C6H5CH=CH2}\) Styrene, or ethenylbenzene C=Cc1ccccc1
Py, \(\ce{C5H5N}\) Pyridine n1ccccc1
\(\ce{H2NCH2CH2NH2}\) Ethane-1,2-diamine, or ethylenediamine NCCN

B — trans-Dichlorido(\(\eta^2\)-ethene)(methylamine)platinum(II)

\[ \ce{[PtCl2(C2H4)(CH3NH2)]} \]

SMILES: CN->[Pt+2]1(<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-C=C->1

Draw methylamine coordinated through N trans to ethene. The two chlorides occupy the remaining mutually trans sites.

C — trans-Dichlorido(\(\eta^2\)-ethene)(aniline)platinum(II)

\[ \ce{[PtCl2(C2H4)(C6H5NH2)]} \]

SMILES: c1ccccc1N->[Pt+2]2(<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-C=C->2

Draw aniline coordinated through its amino N trans to ethene, with the two chlorides mutually trans.

Both preparations of B and C are represented by the balanced equations

\[ \ce{ K[PtCl3(C2H4)] + RNH2 -> [PtCl2(C2H4)(RNH2)] + KCl } \]

and

\[ \ce{ [Pt2Cl4(C2H4)2] + 2RNH2 -> 2[PtCl2(C2H4)(RNH2)] }, \]

where \(R=\ce{CH3}\) gives B and \(R=\ce{C6H5}\) gives C.

D — Potassium trichlorido(\(\eta^2\)-styrene)platinate(II)

\[ \ce{K[PtCl3(C6H5CH=CH2)]} \]

SMILES: [K+].c1ccccc1C2=C->[Pt+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-2

Replace the ethene in Zeise’s salt by styrene, coordinated through the two carbons of its vinyl double bond. The phenyl ring is not the coordinating group. The other three ligand sites remain occupied by chlorides.

\[ \ce{ K[PtCl3(C2H4)] + C6H5CH=CH2 -> K[PtCl3(C6H5CH=CH2)] + C2H4(g) } \]

E — trans-Dichlorido(pyridine)(\(\eta^2\)-styrene)platinum(II)

\[ \ce{[PtCl2(C6H5CH=CH2)(C5H5N)]} \]

SMILES: c1ccccc1C2=C->[Pt+2]<-2(<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-n3ccccc3

Pyridine coordinates through N at the chloride position trans to styrene. The remaining chlorides are mutually trans.

\[ \ce{ K[PtCl3(C6H5CH=CH2)] + C5H5N -> [PtCl2(C6H5CH=CH2)(C5H5N)] + KCl } \]

F — Chlorido(\(\eta^2\)-ethene)(ethane-1,2-diamine-\(\kappa^2N,N'\))platinum(II) chloride

\[ \ce{[PtCl(C2H4)(H2NCH2CH2NH2)]Cl} \]

SMILES: [Cl-].C1=C->[Pt+2]2<-1(<-[Cl-])<-NCCN->2

Draw both nitrogen atoms of one ethylenediamine coordinated to adjacent Pt sites, producing a five-membered Pt–N–C–C–N chelate ring. Ethene and the coordinated chloride occupy the other two adjacent sites.

Thus:

  • One N donor is trans to ethene.
  • The other N donor is trans to coordinated chloride.
  • The complex ion has charge \(+1\), with one external chloride counterion.

The balanced reaction is

\[ \ce{ [Pt2Cl4(C2H4)2] + 2H2NCH2CH2NH2 -> 2[PtCl(C2H4)(H2NCH2CH2NH2)]Cl }. \]

G — trans-Dichloridobis(\(\eta^2\)-ethene)platinum(II)

\[ \ce{[PtCl2(C2H4)2]} \]

SMILES: C1=C->[Pt+2]2<-1(<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-C=C->2

Incoming ethene replaces the bridging chloride contact trans to the original ethene. Therefore the two ethene ligands are mutually trans, and the two chlorides are mutually trans.

\[ \ce{ [Pt2Cl4(C2H4)2] + 2C2H4 -> 2[PtCl2(C2H4)2] } \]

4.6 — Driving forces

Formation of D: i only — formation of gas.

Styrene replaces coordinated ethene, releasing \(\ce{C2H4(g)}\). Escape of ethene from the reaction mixture favors formation of D. Thus only i applies to this alkene-exchange reaction.

Formation of F: iii and iv — trans effect and chelate effect.

The strong trans effect of coordinated ethene facilitates cleavage of the Pt–Cl bridge trans to it. One nitrogen of ethylenediamine binds at that position. The second nitrogen then binds at an adjacent site, replacing another chloride contact and closing the five-membered chelate ring.

Thus the trans effect directs the substitution, and the chelate effect favors binding both N donors of the same ligand. In the sense used by the question, both iii and iv apply.

The answers were checked against the official answers published by the organisers.