Reaction between the diaqua form of cisplatin and 2-methylsulfanylphenylphosphonic acid yields a dinuclear phosphonato-bridged complex via NH3 elimination

Reaction between cis-[Pt(NH3)(2)(H2O)(2)](2+) and (2-methylsulfanyl)phenyl phosphonic acid (H(2)mspp) did not yield the expected cis-diammine [(2-methylsulfanylphenyl)phosphonato]platinum(II) but the dimeric compound [(Pt(mspp)(NH3)}(2)] . 6H(2)O in which the dianionic mspp(2-) ligand acts both as chelator and bridging ligand. Thus, the high trans-effect of the sulfanyl group apparently leads to elimination of one NH3 ligand. An X-ray crystal structure analysis of the dimeric complex is reported.