Flexible platinum(0) coordination to a ditungsten ethanediylidyne

The lithiocarbyne [W(≡CLi)(CO)${}_2$(Tp*)] (Tp*=hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate) reacts with [PtCl${}_2$(L${}_2$)] (L${}_2$=1,5-cyclo-octadiene, norbornadiene) to furnish ditungsten ethanediylidyne complexes, [W${}_2${μ-C${}_2$Pt(L${}_2$)}(CO)${}_4$(Tp*)${}_2$], wherein a trigonal platinum(0) center unsymmetrically ligates one W≡C bond in the solid state but rapidly shimmies between the two W≡C bonds in solution. The η${}^4$-dienes are displaced by monodentate CO or isocyanide ligands to provide derivatives where both W≡C bonds coordinate to a single Pt${}^0$ center, attended by significant distortion of the WCCW spine. (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)