Tris[dimethylplatinum(2-pyridylmethyliminoethyl)]amine: first structure with the ligand in the tris(bidentate) bonding mode

The ligand tris(2-pyridylmethyliminoethyl)amine (L) has seven nitrogen atoms and can act as a heptadentate or more commonly as a hexadentate ligand. It is also known to act as a tris(bidentate) ligand. This article reports the first complex of this type to be structurally characterized. Complex [(PtMe2)3L] (1) is formed as purple crystals by reaction of [Pt2Me4(μ-SMe2)2] with L, with displacement of dimethylsulfide. The unusual structure of 1 resembles a 3-petal tulip flower and has approximate C3 symmetry.