A novel di-platinum(II) octaphosphite complex showing metal–metal bonding and intense luminescence; a potential probe for basic proteins. X-Ray crystal and molecular structure

X-Ray crystallography and 195Pt and 31P n.m.r. spectroscopy show that an intensely luminescent product from K2PtCl4–H3PO3 reactions is a dimer with close Pt atoms (2·925 Å) bridged by four P–O–P linkages from diphosphorous acid ligands; its reactions and uses are discussed.