Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 12, 2026

Transplatin

trans-Dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) is the trans isomer of the coordination complex with the formula trans-PtCl2(NH3)2, sometimes called transplatin. It is a yellow solid with low solubility in water but good solubility in dimethylformamide. The existence of two isomers of PtCl2(NH3)2 led Alfred Werner to propose square planar molecular geometry. It belongs to the molecular symmetry point group D2h.

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trans-Dichlorodiammineplatinum(II)
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Names
IUPAC name
(SP-4-1)-diamminedichloridoplatinum(II)
Other names
Reiset's second chloride, transplatin
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.035.422
EC Number
  • 239-733-8
UNII
  • InChI=1S/2ClH.2H3N.Pt/h2*1H;2*1H3;/q;;;;+2/p-2
    Key: LXZZYRPGZAFOLE-UHFFFAOYSA-L
  • Cl[Pt@SP2](Cl)([NH3])[NH3]
Properties
Cl2H6N2Pt
Molar mass 300.05
Appearance yellow solid
low
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

trans-Dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) is the trans isomer of the coordination complex with the formula trans-PtCl2(NH3)2, sometimes called transplatin.1 It is a yellow solid with low solubility in water but good solubility in dimethylformamide. The existence of two isomers of PtCl2(NH3)2 led Alfred Werner to propose square planar molecular geometry.2 It belongs to the molecular symmetry point group D2h.

Preparation and reactions

The complex is prepared by treating [Pt(NH3)4]Cl2 with hydrochloric acid.2

Many of the reactions of this complex can be explained by the trans effect. It slowly hydrolyzes in aqueous solution to give the mixed aquo complex trans-[PtCl(H2O)(NH3)2]Cl. Similarly it reacts with thiourea (tu) to give colorless trans-[Pt(tu)2(NH3)2]Cl2. In contrast, the cis isomer gives [Pt(tu)4]Cl2. Oxidative addition of chlorine gives trans-PtCl4(NH3)2.

Medicinal chemistry

trans-Dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) has had far less impact on medicinal chemistry compared to its cis isomer, cisplatin, which is a major anticancer drug. Nonetheless, replacement of the ammonia with other ligands has led to highly active drugs that have attracted much attention.3

References

References

  1. Nakata, B; Yamagata, S; Kanehara, I; Shirasaka, T; Hirakawa, K (25 June 2006). "Transplatin, a cisplatin trans-isomer, may enhance the anticancer effect of 5-fluorouracil". Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research. 25 (2): 195–200. PMID 16918130.
  2. Kauffman, George B; Cowan, Dwaine O; Slusarczuk, George; Kirschner, Stanley (1963). "cis - and trans -Dichlorodiammineplatinum(II)". Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. VII. pp. 239–245. doi:10.1002/9780470132388.ch63. ISBN 978-0-470-13238-8. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  3. Aris, S. M; Farrell, N. P (2009). "Towards Antitumor Active trans-Platinum Compounds". European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry. 2009 (10): 1293–1302. Bibcode:2009EJIC.2009.1293A. doi:10.1002/ejic.200801118. PMC 2821104. PMID 20161688.