Rational synthesis of dinuclear complexes of platinum(I) and platinum(II) containing bridging ortho-metallated triphenylphosphine ligands from the monomeric bis(chelate) platinum(II) complex Pt(o-C6H4PPh2)2

Comproportionation of Pt(PPh3)3 and the bis(chelate) complex Pt(o-C6H4PPh2)2 gives a dinuclear complex Pt2(µ-o-C6H4PPh2)2(PPh 3)2 which is shown by X-ray crystallography to contain two ortho-metallated triphenylphosphine ligands bridging a PtI–PtI bond [Pt–Pt 2.630(1)A]; addition of iodine gives a salt [Pt2(µ-l)(µ-o-C6H4PPh2)2(PPh3)2]l, the cation of which has an A-frame structure [Pt–Pt 2.931(2)A].