Two atoms at once: ligand skeleton expansion by a –CN– unit via nitrile insertion into the pyridinium amidate backbone of platinum complexes

Description

Lars K Burri, Svitlana Shishkina, and Martin Albrecht slip a two atom fragment into the spine of a platinum bound ligand. Such molecular editing usually moves one atom at a time. The ligand, a pyridinium amidate, offers a carbon nitrogen bond that platinum can pry open. A nitrile then donates its carbon nitrogen unit straight into the gap. The skeleton stretches by two atoms at once.

Marked atoms traced the break to the bond between nitrogen and the ring. Watching the mixture over time revealed several way stations before the final complex settled. The team frames the trick as a fresh route for reshaping ring compounds. Two atom inserts were nearly unheard of in that class, outside ring opening detours.

Catalog record

Source: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/PMC13580393