JEE Main · 2024mediumCORD-019

The correct IUPAC name of [PtBr2(PMe3)2] is:

Coordination Compounds · Class 12 · JEE Main Previous Year Question

Question

The correct IUPAC name of [PtBr2(PMe3)2][\mathrm{PtBr_2(PMe_3)_2}] is:

Options
  1. a

    dibromodi(trimethylphosphine)platinum(II)

  2. b

    bis(trimethylphosphine)dibromoplatinum(II)

  3. c

    dibromobis(trimethylphosphine)platinum(II)

  4. d

    bis[bromo(trimethylphosphine)]platinum(II)

Correct Answerc

dibromobis(trimethylphosphine)platinum(II)

Detailed Solution

🧠 Three Naming Decisions

IUPAC-name questions for neutral complexes test three things at once:

  1. Alphabetical order of ligand names (ignore multiplying prefixes).
  2. Multiplier choice — di/tri/tetra for simple ligands, bis/tris/tetrakis for complex/composite ligand names.
  3. Oxidation state in Roman numerals.

🗺️ Apply to [PtBr2(PMe3)2][\mathrm{PtBr_2(PMe_3)_2}]

Ligands & alphabetical order. "Bromo" (B) comes before "(trimethyl)phosphine" (P, alphabetised by 't' or 'p'? — by first letter of the ligand stem, which is 't' for trimethylphosphine). Either way, bromo first. ✓

Multipliers.

  • 2 × bromo → "dibromo" (simple ligand → di-).
  • 2 × trimethylphosphine → "bis(trimethylphosphine)" (composite name → bis- to avoid confusion with "ditrimethyl-").

Oxidation state. x+2(1)+2(0)=0x=+2x + 2(-1) + 2(0) = 0 \Rightarrow x = +2. So Pt(II).

Combine: dibromobis(trimethylphosphine)platinum(II).

The "Bis vs Di" Decision Tree

Use bis/tris/tetrakis whenever:

  • The ligand name itself contains a numerical prefix (di, tri, etc.) — e.g. ethylenediamine, trimethylphosphine.
  • Or the ligand name has multiple words / is enclosed in brackets.

Use di/tri/tetra for simple, single-word ligands (bromo, chloro, ammine, aqua).

⚠️ The Oxidation-State Drop

Option (4) writes "bis[bromo(trimethylphosphine)]platinum(II)" — totally wrong syntax (you don't bracket two different ligands together). Always pair multipliers with one ligand at a time.

Answer: (3) dibromobis(trimethylphosphine)platinum(II)\boxed{\text{Answer: (3) dibromobis(trimethylphosphine)platinum(II)}}

Practice this question with progress tracking

Want timed practice with adaptive difficulty? Solve this question (and hundreds more from Coordination Compounds) inside The Crucible, our adaptive practice platform.