Efficient syntheses and characterization of-a platinum metallacyclyne
containing one cyclic enyne pocket (3), the first dinuclear platinum m
etallacyclyne containing two cyclic enyne pockets (4), and 2,2',6,6'-t
etraethynyltolan (2) are reported. Syntheses of 3 and 4 employ bidenta
te phosphines or cis-platinum starting materials and high dilution tec
hniques to effect high yields.