Reaction of [(Ph2C2S2)2M] (M = Ni 2+ , Pd 2+ , Pt 2+ ) with 2 eq of RN≡C (R = Me (a), Bn (b), Cy (c), t Bu (d), 1-Ad (e), Ph (f)) yields [(Ph2C2S2)M(C≡NR)2] (M= Ni 2+ , 4a-4f; M = Pd 2+ , 5a-5f; M = Pt 2+ , 6a-6f), which are air-stable and amenable to chromatographic purification. All members have been characterized crystallographically. Structurally, progressively greater planarity tends to be manifest as M varies from Ni to Pt, and a modest decrease in the C≡N bond length of coordinated C≡NR appears in moving from Ni toward Pt. Vibrational spectroscopy (CH2Cl2 solution) reveals νC≡N frequencies for [(Ph2C2S2)M(C≡NR)2] that are substantially higher than for free C≡NR and increase as M ranges from Ni to Pt. This trend is interpreted as arising from increasing positive charge at M that stabilizes the linear, charge-separated resonance form of the ligand over the bent form with lowered C-N bond order. UV-vis spectra reveal lowest energy transitions that are assigned as HOMO (dithiolene π) → LUMO (M-L σ*) excitations. Oneelectron oxidations of [(Ph2C2S2)M(C≡NR)2] are observed at ~+0.5 V due to Ph2C2S2 2-→ Ph2C2S -S • + e -. Chemical oxidation of [(Ph2C2S2)Pt(C≡N t Bu)2] with [(Br-p-C6H4)3N][SbCl6] yields [(Ph2C2S -S • )Pt(C≡N t Bu)2] 1+ , identified spectroscopically, but in the crystalline state [[(Ph2C2S -S • )Pt(C≡N t Bu)2]2] 2+ prevails, which forms via axial Pt•••S interactions and pyramidalization at metal. Complete substitution of MeNC from [(Ph2C2S2)Ni(C≡NMe)2] by 2,6-Me2py under forcing conditions yields [(2,6-Me2py)Ni(μ2-η 1 ,η 1 -S',η 1 -S"-C2Ph2)]2 (8), which features a folded Ni2S2 core. In most cases, isonitrile substitution from [(Ph2C2S2)M(C≡NMe)2] with monodentate ligands (L = phosphine, CN -, carbene) typically leads to [(Ph2C2S2)M(L)(C≡NMe)] n (n = 0 or 1 -), wherein νC≡N varies according to the relative σ donating power of L (9 -21). Use of 1,3-bis(2,6diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IPr) provides [(Ph2C2S2)M(IPr)(C≡NMe)] for M = Ni (18)or Pd ( 19), but for Pt , attack by IPr at the isonitrile carbon occurs to yield the unusual η 1 ,κCketenimine complex [(Ph2C2S2)Pt(C(NMe)(IPr))(C≡NMe)] (20).