Trans-(μ-5,5′-Diethynyl-2,2′-bipyridine)bis- [phenylbis(triethylphosphine)platinum(II)]

The title compound, [Pt₂(C₆H₅) ₂(C₁₄H₆N₂)(C₆H ₁₅P)₄], is a dinuclear Pt^II di-yne complex that exhibits π-conjugation along the molecular backbone. It is used as a model complex for rigid-rod platinum poly-yne polymers of which it is a precursor. Such compounds are of interest because of the extended π-conjugation through the aromatic/heteroaromatic spacer group in the backbone. The asymmetric unit contains two half molecules of the title compound, each lying on a crystallographic centre of symmetry situated at the mid-point of the central C - C bond of the bipyridine unit.