Dimethyl- and diphenylplatinum(II) fragments PtIIR2 (R = Me, Ph) enable facile and efficient oxidative C(sp3)–H bond cleavage and stepwise C–C and C![[double bond, length as m-dash]](http://www.rsc.org/images/entities/char_e001.gif)
C coupling at the boron atom of a coordinated 1,5-cyclooctanediyldi(2-pyridyl)borato ligand with O2 as the sole oxidant.
![Graphical abstract: Oxidative C(sp3)–H bond cleavage, C–C and C [[double bond, length as m-dash]] C coupling at a boron center with O2 as the oxidant mediated by platinum(ii)](http://hg.y866.cn/compound/lib/scimg/usr/1/C3CC47445C.jpg)
