Bis(triphenylphosphine)platinum chloride is a metal phosphine complex with the formula PtCl2[P(C6H5)3]2. Cis- and trans isomers are known. The cis isomer is a white crystalline powder, while the trans isomer is yellow.[3] Both isomers are square planar about the central platinum atom. The cis isomer is used primarily as a reagent for the synthesis of other platinum compounds.
With heating or in the presence of excess PPh3, the trans isomer converts to the cis complex. The latter complex is the thermodynamic product due to triphenylphosphine being a strong trans effect ligand.
In cis-bis(triphenylphosphine)platinum chloride, the average Pt-P has a bond distance of 2.261 Å and the average Pt-Cl has a bond distance of 2.346 Å.[2] In trans-bis(triphenylphosphine)platinum chloride, the Pt-P distance is 2.316 Å and the Pt-Cl distance is 2.300 Å.[1]