8. "Platinum-Catalyzed Acrylonitrile Hydrophosphination via Olefin Insertion into a Pt-P Bond," Denyce K. Wicht, Igor V. Kourkine, Belinda M. Lew, J. Mulei Nthenge, and David S. Glueck, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 5039-5040.

The mechanism of the acrylonitrile hydrophosphination catalyzed by Pt(dppe)(CH₂CHCN) (dppe = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂) has been investigated. Oxidative addition of P-H bonds to Pt(dppe)(trans-stilbene) gives phosphido hydride complexes. Acrylonitrile does not insert into the Pt-H bond of these hydrides; the resulting Pt phosphido alkyls were prepared independently and found to be stable to P-C reductive elimination. Instead, catalysis appears to occur by selective insertion of acrylonitrile into the Pt-P bond (this step was observed directly in related Pt phosphido alkyl complexes) followed by C-H reductive elimination.