Activation of methane by gaseous platinum(II) ions PtX+ (X = H, Cl, Br, CHO)

The gas-phase reactions of methane with the platinum(II) ions PtX+ with X = H, Cl, Br, and CHO are studied by mass spectrometry. The PtX+ ions are generated by electrospray ionization of methanolic solutions of hexachloroplatinic acid and hexabromoplatinic acid, respectively. Small to moderate intramolecular kinetic isotope effects determined for the C—H(D) bond activation of CH2D2 suggest that the activation of methane by gaseous PtX+ cations is subject to thermochemical control by the product channels. In addition, the PtCl2+ cation is also able to activate methane, whereas PtCl3+ is unreactive under the conditions chosen. Key words: gas-phase reactions, mass spectrometry, methane activation, platinum bromide, platinum chloride.