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 mol 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 View the MathML sourcePF6− and View the MathML sourceBPh4− 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 View the MathML sourceBPh4− 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 View the MathML sourceBPh4− to Hg. A single-crystal X-ray structure determination on [{Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4}2(μ-1,4-C6Me4Hg2)](BPh4)2 shows 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.