Transition metal complexes incorporating the BF2 ligand formed by oxidative addition of the B-B bond in B2F4

The reactions between B2F4 and the platinum and iridium complexes [Pt(PPh3)(2)(eta -C2H4)], [Pt(dppb)(eta -C2H4)] [dppb=1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane] and trans-[IrCl(CO)(PPh3)(2)] afforded the difluoroboryl complexes cis-[Pt(BF2)(2)(PPh3)(2)], cis-[Pt(BF2)(2)(dppb)] and fac-[Ir(BF2)(3)(CO)(PPh3)(2)] respectively all of which have been characterised by X-ray crystallography. The isoelectronic platinum dppb nitrito complex cis-[Pt(NO2)(2)(dppb)] has also been prepared and structurally characterised.