A double cubane structure in organoplatinum(IV) chemistry.

The reaction of [PtMe2(dpe)], dpe=1,2-di-2-pyridylethane, with hydrogen peroxide occurs with ligand loss to give [{PtMe2(OH)2}n], but the reaction mixture then slowly yields crystals of [{PtMe3OH.PtMe2(OH)2}2][PtMe2(CO3)(dpe)]2, in which the central cluster has an unexpected structure based on a face-bridged double cubane.