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

The title compound, [Pt 2 (C 6 H 5 ) 2 (C 14 H 6 N 2 )(C 6 H 15 P) 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.