Separate reactions of cycloplatinated 2-tolyl-and 2-anisylguanidine complexes, [Pt{κ 2 (C,N)}(OC(O)CF 3 )(S(O)Me 2 )] (1 and 2), with Hg(OC(O)CF 3 ) 2 in 1:0.5 and 1:1 molar ratios afforded the one-dimensionalas bright red crystals and the discrete tetrametallic complex [Pt II {κ 2 (C,N)}(μ 2 -OC(O)CF 3 ) 2 Hg I −] 2 (4) as yellow crystals in good yields. The two different products obtained in the aforementioned reactions are ascribed to the subtle differences in the N substituent of the guanidinate(1−) ligands in 1 and 2. The plausible mechanisms of formation of 3 and 4 are outlined. Complexes 3 and 4 were characterized by elemental analyses and IR and multinuclear NMR ( 1 H, 13 C{ 1 H}, 19 F, and 195 Pt) spectroscopy. Complex 4 was also characterized by 199 Hg NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of 3•C 7 H 8 and 4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. 1D CP 3•C 7 H 8 contains a Pt(III)−Hg(0)−Pt(III)(μ 2 -S(O)Me 2 -S,O) repeating unit with a pair of unsupported Pt−Hg covalent bonds, while 4 contains a Pt(II)−Hg(I)−Hg(I)−Pt(II) chain with a pair of trifluoroacetate ligand supported Pt→Hg coordinate bonds. 1D CP 3•C 7 H 8 falls apart into a mixture of three species, namely 6−8 and 9−11 in C 6 D 6 and CDCl 3 , respectively, as revealed by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. In CDCl 3 , 4 partially isomerizes to [Pt II (OC(O)CF 3 )(μ 2 -OC(O)CF 3 ){κ 3 μ 2 (C,N,O)}Hg I −] 2 ( 12), wherein each Pt→Hg coordinate bond is supported by one μ 2bridging trifluoroacetate ligand and one chelating bridging guanidinate(1−) ligand, as inferred from variable-temperature 1 H and 19 F NMR spectroscopy. Complex 12 is the major species and 4 is the minor species in CDCl 3 , while opposite situation prevails in C 6 D 6 . The observance of a mixture of two solution species for 4 is ascribed to a rapid "carboxylate shift" process induced by the oxygen atom of the N(C 6 H 4 (OMe)-2) unit of the guanidinate(1−) ligand through neighboring-group participation. UV−visible absorption and emission spectra of 4 were measured in CHCl 3 , and from the outcome of the investigation, the possible existence of [Cl 2 (H)C−Cl•••Pt II (OC(O)CF 3 )(μ 2 -OC(O)CF 3 ){κ 3 μ 2 (C,N,O)}Hg I −] 2 (12″) was suggested, which is likely to have a pair of Pt− Hg covalent bonds made possible by CHCl 3 coordination on the sixth site of the Pt(II) atom.