Spanning [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] metalloligands with 1,4-dimercurated durene

Reaction of the metalloligand [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with 0.5 mole equivalents of durene-1,4-bis(mercuric acetate) [AcOHgC₆Me₄HgOAc] in methanol gives the polynuclear complex [{Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄}₂(μ-1,4-C₆Me₄Hg₂)]²⁺, isolated as its PF₆⁻ and BPh₄⁻ salts. Positive-ion ESI mass spectra indicate that [{Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄}₂(μ-1,4-C₆Me₄Hg₂)]²⁺ undergoes fragmentation by successive loss of PPh₃ ligands, while the ESI mass spectrum of the BPh₄⁻ salt showed additional ions [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄(HgC₆Me₄HgPh)]⁺ and [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄HgPh]⁺as a result of phenyl transfer from BPh₄⁻ to Hg. A single-crystal X-ray structure determination on [{Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄}₂(μ-1,4-C₆Me₄Hg₂)](BPh₄)₂shows that the cation crystallises on a centre of symmetry, with structural features that are comparable to those of the previously characterised complex [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄HgPh]BPh₄