The neutral complexes of formula [κ 2 P,S-(dppmS)Pt(CH 3 )- (3) [dppmS = Ph 2 PCH 2 P(S)Ph 2 ; dppeS = Ph 2 P(CH 2 ) 2 P(S)Ph 2 ; dpppS = Ph 2 P(CH 2 ) 3 P(S)Ph 2 ] are active catalyst precursors for the hydroformylation of 1-octene in methyl isobutyl ketone. The order of reactivity found is 3 Ͼ 2 Ͼ 1. Surprisingly, the cationic complexes [κ 2 P,S-(dppeS)Pt(CH 3 )(CH 3 CN)]BF 4 (4a) and [{κP,µ-κS-(dppeS)-Pt(CH 3 )} 2 ][BF 4 ] 2 (5) are less active than the analogous neutral complex 2. High-pressure NMR studies revealed that, at 20°C under 1 to 50 bar of syngas, and in the presence of SnCl 2 , both 2 and 4a react immediately to form the same acetyl complex (8). However, in the absence of SnCl 2 , the methyl