Electronic Spectra and Photochemistry of Trichlorostannyl Complexes of Rhodium(III) and Platinum(II)

The absorption spectra of [Rh(SnCl3)4Cl2]3− and [Pt(SnCl3)5]3− are characterized by a similar band pattern. It is suggested that the absorption spectra are dominated by bands which are assigned to intraligand transitions. While solid (NBu4)3[Pt(SnCl3)5] shows a low-temperature emission the rhodium complex is not luminescent. Both complex anions are light sensitive in acetonitrile solution. They undergo an efficient photosubstitution of the trichlorostannyl ligand