Synthesis and Characterization of Substituted Platinum(II) Acetylacetonate Complexes
Location
Turner Gymnasium
Access Type
Open Access
Presentation Type
Printed poster
Entry Number
45
Start Date
4-16-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
4-16-2026 1:15 PM
School
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department
Chemistry
Abstract
Platinum-based compounds are vital in modern medicine, particularly as chemotherapeutic agents that interact with DNA to treat various cancers. Platinum(II) complexes containing β-diketonate ligands, such as platinum(II) bis(acetylacetonate), are valued for their square planar geometry and high stability. While Pt(acac)₂ is a well-known coordination compound, there is a need to understand how substituting chemical groups on the acetylacetonate ligand affects the stability, structure, and reactivity of the platinum center. The objective of this study was to synthesize and characterize platinum(II) complexes using substituted acetylacetonate ligands. This research focuses on ligands containing chloro, methyl, fluoro, and other substituted functional groups to evaluate how electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents influence coordination to platinum. The complexes were synthesized by reacting platinum precursors with the substituted ligands in solution and isolating the resulting solid products. The synthesized complexes are undergoing structural analysis using proton, carbon, and fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction to confirm ligand coordination and molecular structure. Antimicrobial activity will be assessed using disk diffusion testing, and selected compounds may be submitted to the National Cancer Institute for anticancer evaluation. Initial observations indicate successful formation of substituted platinum complexes, as shown by the formation of solid products following reaction and purification. Structural characterization and biological testing are currently ongoing. This research improves understanding of how ligand substitution affects the chemical properties of platinum(II) complexes. These findings may contribute to the future design of platinum-based compounds for catalytic and medicinal applications.
Primary Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. David Hobart
Primary Faculty Mentor(s) Department
The Chemistry department
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Synthesis and Characterization of Substituted Platinum(II) Acetylacetonate Complexes
Turner Gymnasium
Platinum-based compounds are vital in modern medicine, particularly as chemotherapeutic agents that interact with DNA to treat various cancers. Platinum(II) complexes containing β-diketonate ligands, such as platinum(II) bis(acetylacetonate), are valued for their square planar geometry and high stability. While Pt(acac)₂ is a well-known coordination compound, there is a need to understand how substituting chemical groups on the acetylacetonate ligand affects the stability, structure, and reactivity of the platinum center. The objective of this study was to synthesize and characterize platinum(II) complexes using substituted acetylacetonate ligands. This research focuses on ligands containing chloro, methyl, fluoro, and other substituted functional groups to evaluate how electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents influence coordination to platinum. The complexes were synthesized by reacting platinum precursors with the substituted ligands in solution and isolating the resulting solid products. The synthesized complexes are undergoing structural analysis using proton, carbon, and fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction to confirm ligand coordination and molecular structure. Antimicrobial activity will be assessed using disk diffusion testing, and selected compounds may be submitted to the National Cancer Institute for anticancer evaluation. Initial observations indicate successful formation of substituted platinum complexes, as shown by the formation of solid products following reaction and purification. Structural characterization and biological testing are currently ongoing. This research improves understanding of how ligand substitution affects the chemical properties of platinum(II) complexes. These findings may contribute to the future design of platinum-based compounds for catalytic and medicinal applications.