The complexes (bpym)PtCl(2) (1) and the new (micro-bpym)[PtCl(2)](2) (2), bpym = 2,2'-bipyrimidine, were synthesized and, in the case of 1, crystallized in solvent-free form for X-ray diffraction. The molecules 1 exhibit two different kinds of stacking motifs in the crystal with an interstack CH--N interaction. Complexes 1 and 2 were found to be sufficiently soluble for cyclic voltammetry, spectroscopy (absorption and emission), and spectroelectrochemical studies (UV-vis, EPR). As a result of single or double coordination of the strongly sigma-accepting [PtCl(2)] fragment to bpym, the paramagnetic anions 1(*)(-)() and 2(*)(-)() and the dianions 1(2-) and 2(2-) could be reversibly generated, despite the presence of metal-halide bonds. DFT calculations of A((195)Pt) and g tensor components confirm that the singly occupied MOs of the monoanionic species have mainly pi(bpym) character with nonnegligible platinum d orbital participation. The assignments of the electronic absorption and emission and resonance Raman spectra for both complexes are supported by DFT calculations.

The electron-transfer capacity of molecular rectangle ions [Pt(II)(4)(PEt(3))(8)(mu-anth(2-))(2)(mu-L)(2)](4+) with anth = anthracene-1,8-diyl and L = 4,4'-bipyridine (bp) or 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene (bpe) was investigated in acetonitrile and dichloromethane using cyclic voltammetry, EPR, and UV-vis-near-IR spectroelectrochemistry. The compounds can be reversibly reduced, first in a two-electron process and then via two closely separated one-electron steps. Oxidation was also possible at rather low potentials in a reversible two-electron step, followed by an electrochemically irreversible process. The spectroscopic results indicate reduction at the neutral acceptor ligands L and oxidation at the formally dianionic anthracene "clips". In contrast, the prototypical molecular square ([Pt(triphos)(mu-bp)](4))(8+) undergoes only irreversible reduction.