I just attempted to prepare a platinate sodium salt, by trying to dissolve fine platinum metal in hot saturated aqeuous NaOH, (NaOH+Pt->NaOPt+H?)
Unfortunately, the NaOH doesn't seem to have attacked the platinum, I intend to use it to electroplate a carbon electrode for use with some kolbe-based electrochemical experiments with alanine and tyrosine, but as yet, the NaOH has failed to attack the platinum metal.
Any ideas as to how to get the reaction to proceed? as I can NOT afford to buy shitloads of platinum, I thought about perhaps adding a tiny amount of mercuric iodide, as is done with Al/Hg reductive aminations, or even if nescessary, fishing the Pt out the petri dish I am using to hold it and the NaOH, cleaning the Pt with water, and preparing its iodide via sublimation of iodine under the metal.
Any better ideas?