Rational Synthesis of Platinabenzenes

Treatment of Cp*Pt(CO)I (8) with two nucleophilic (Z)-3-(2-lithiovinyl)cyclopropenes provides a rational synthesis of platinabenzenes 6 and 7. The intermediate σ-vinyl complexes 9 and 10 are also isolated from the reaction mixtures and convert cleanly to the corresponding platinabenzenes in near-quantitative yield.