The potentially bis-cyclometalating ligand 3,3′,5,5′-tetrakis[(dimethylamino)methyl]biphenyl, was prepared from 3,5-(Me 2 NCH 2) 2 C 6 H 3 Br in a one-pot synthesis involving lithium-halogen exchange, transmetalation, and reductive-elimination reactions. This ligand undergoes selective dilithiation in the 4 and 4′ positions of the biphenyl group to form [Li 2 {2,6-(Me 2 NCH 2) 2 C 6 H 2 } 2 ] n , which is a versatile precursor to bimetallic complexes via a double transmetalation reaction. The syntheses and characterization of the new homobinuclear Pt(II) and Pd(II) compounds, [(MeCN)Pt{2,6-(Me 2 NCH 2) 2 C 6 H 2 }-] 2 (CF 3 SO 3) 2 and [ClPd{2,6-(Me 2 NCH 2) 2 C 6 H 2 }-] 2 , is reported in addition to a novel synthetic route to the complex [ClPt{2,6-(Me 2 NCH 2) 2 C 6 H 2 }-] 2. The solid-state structure of Pd dimer was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Oxidative addition of Cl 2 to the latter Pt compound produced the bis-platinum(IV) complex [Cl 3 Pt{2,6-(Me 2 NCH 2) 2 C 6 H 2 }-] 2 , which reacts with 2 equiv of Ag(O 3 SCF 3) in MeCN solution to form [(MeCN)Cl 2 Pt{2,6-(Me 2-NCH 2) 2 C 6 H 2 }-] 2 (CF 3 SO 3) 2. This complex could also be obtained directly by reaction of the former Pt II dimer with 2 equiv of Cl 2 IPh. 1 H NMR spectroscopic studies show that mixtures of the Pt II and Pt IV dimers in acetonitrile solution are in equilibrium with a mixed-valence (Pt II ,Pt IV) species [(MeCN)Pt II {2,6-(Me 2 NCH 2) 2 C 6 H 2-C 6 H 2 (CH 2 NMe 2)-2,6}Pt IV Cl 2 (NCMe)](CF 3-SO 3) 2 , which, however, could not be isolated in pure form. The reaction of the Pt II dimer with e1 equiv of Cl 2 IPh also gave a Pt IV dimer, along with unreacted starting material and the mixed-valence complex. A reversible double CC bond formation has been achieved by reaction of the Pt II dimer with excess of methyl iodide. This procedure yields the bis(arenonium) species [IPt II {2,6-(Me 2 NCH 2) 2-1-MeC 6 H 2 }-] 2 (CF 3 SO 3) 2 in which both the Me groups derived from I-Me bond cleavage are bound to the C ipso of the aryl rings. The mono-(arenonium) compound [IPt II {2,6-(Me 2 NCH 2) 2-1-MeC 6 H 2-C 6 H 2 (CH 2 NMe 2) 2-2′,6′}Pt II ](CF 3 SO 3) 2 has been identified as an intermediate in this reaction by 1 H NMR spectroscopy.