Efficient, ultrafast, microwave-assisted syntheses of cycloplatinated complexes

Cyclometallated chloridoplatinum complexes containing neutral monodentate ligands such as 2-phenylpyridine (1a), 2-(2'-thienyl)pyridine (1c) or 4-methoxypyridine (1d), as well as the cyclometallated benzo[h]quinoline chlorido complex with 4-methoxypyridine (2d), can be synthesised in a few minutes by irradiating the reaction mixture with microwaves. The single-crystal X-ray molecular structures of the solvato complexes 1-dmso and 2 center dot dmso as well as 1c, 1d and 2d are reported. The availability of this class of complexes in a few minutes offers the possibility of a combinatorial approach for the preparation of libraries of homologous compounds of potential interest for applicative purposes. ((c) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007).