Platinum Metals Review - Volume 15, Issue 2, 1971

Certain complexes of the platinum group metals exhibit interesting biological effects. At low concentrations some are effective bacteriocides; others stop cell division and force bacteria to grow into long filaments. These complexes can also induce destruction of lysogenic bacteria. Most important, perhaps, some of these complexes are very potent anti-tumour agents against a broad spectrum of tumours, and may shortly be used for cancer chemotherapy in humans.

The rare occurrence of inactive catalyst gauzes for no obvious reason has led to comparative studies of the structures of rhodium-platinum wires from both active and inactive gauzes. Active gauzes showed the regular development of octagonal crystal faces on the nodular growths on the wires. Inactive gauzes showed no crystal development and an amorphous growth appeared on the wires. Segregation of rhodium and iron at the surface occurred in this case, perhaps due to unusual plant operating conditions, and may have caused deactivation.

The synthesis of organic molecules is of growing importance to the chemical industry but conventional methods are becoming increasingly inadequate. Transition metal complexes, in particular those of the platinum metals, provide routes in synthetic chemistry to many useful and interesting compounds. Here the principles involved are explained and a number of the reactions are described.