Synthesis of a platinum(II) bis(trimethylsilyl)amido complex: A better starting material for the cyclometalation of pincer ligands

Treatment of [(COD)PtCl2] with LiN(SiMe3)(2) gives [COD]PtClN(SiMe3)(2) in high yield. This product was fully characterized, including an X-ray structure. From a number of examples it is shown to be a very convenient starting material for the preparation of PXP platinum pincer complexes, giving excellent yields of the cyclometalated product under mild conditions.