Potassium Hexaiodoplatinate

There have been reports of syntheses of cyano complexes in fused potassium cyanide, though the characterization of the products has not always been satisfactory.1 The dry reaction between potassium cyanide and potassium hexaiodoplatinate(IV), however, certainly gives the impure hexacyano-platinate(IV) and substitution of cycloocta-1,5-diene bonded to platinum(II) may be achieved by the use of solid potassium cyanide in the presence of a crown ether catalyst.16... 

The colour and sensitivity of the potassium hexaiodoplatinate reagent for the detection of alkaloids has been discussed. 

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