Computational Analysis of Mesomerism in para-Substituted mer-NCN Pincer Platinum(II) Complexes, Including its Relationships with Hammett σ_p Substituent Parameters

Abstract

Density Functional Theory studies of square-planar PtII pincer structures, (4-Z-NCN)PtCl ([4-Z-NCN]−=[4-Z-2,6-(Me2NCH2)2C6H2-N,C,N]−, Z=H, NO2, CF3, CO2H, CHO, Cl, Br, I, F, SMe, SiMe3, tBu, OH, NH2, NMe2), enable characterisation of mesomerism for the pincer-Pt interaction. Relationships between Hammett σp substituent parameters of Z and DFT data obtained from NBO6 and AOMix computation are used to probe the interaction of the 5dyz orbital of platinum with π-orbitals of the arene ring. Analogous computation for 2,6-(Me2CH2)2C6H3Z (Z=H, CF3, CHO, Cl, Br, I, F, SMe, SiMe3, tBu, OH, NH2) and (4-H-NCN)PtZ allows an estimation of the relative substituent effects of “(CH2NMe2)2PtZ” on π-delocalisation in the pincer system.