Electronic and steric impact of bis-NHC ligands on reactions of Pt3S2 cores in trinuclear complexes bearing bis-NHC ligands with various lengths of alkylene bridges.

Alkylene-bridged bis-N-heterocyclic carbene ligands working as strong σ-donors enhance the reactivity of the Pt3S2 core in a triplatinum complex. Although an Ag(I) ion possibly reacts with the Pt-Pt bond, one of the sulfide ligands coordinates to an Ag(I) ion due to the steric hindrance of the ligands.