Unprecedented behavior of 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine: dinuclear platinum(II) derivatives with a new N,C^C,N bridging ligand

We report the synthesis and characterization of some dinuclear organoplatinum(II) species where 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (terpy) behaves as a 2-fold-deprotonated N,C^C,N ligand bridging two [Pt(CH3)(L)] units (L ) neutral ligand). Each platinum atom is further bonded to a nitrogen of a terminal pyridine and to a 3' or 5' carbon atom of the inner pyridine ring. As far as we know, these are the first examples of cyclometalated terpy as well as of a 3,5- dimetalated pyridine ring. The X-ray structure of one of these species (L ) CO) shows it to be an organoplatinum polymer