The ligand properties of the organometallic fragment (η 5 -SC 4 H 3 )Cr(CO) 3 were studied in the new σ,π-bimetallic complexes [Cr{(η 5 -SC 4 H 3 )PtL 2 (SC 4 H 3 )}(CO) 3 ] with L = CO and PMe 3 1 or L 2 = dppe [1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane] 2, [Cr{(η 5 -SC 4 H 3 )Au(PPh 3 )}(CO) 3 ] 3 and [Cr(η 5 -SC 4 H 3 SnMe 3 )(CO) 3 ] 4. Whereas the intermediates [Cr{(η 5 -SC 4 H 3 )PtL 2 Cl}(CO) 3 ] (L = PMe 3 or dppe) and [Pt{(SC 4 H 3 )Cr(CO) 3 } 2 L 2 ] were too unstable to isolate and characterize, 4 slowly converted into [Cr{η 5 -SC 4 H 2 (SnMe 3 ) 2 }(CO) 3 ] 5. By contrast, the reaction of lithiated [Cr(η 6 -SC 8 H 6 )(CO) 3 ] with [Pt(dppe)Cl 2 ] afforded the stable trinuclear complex, [Pt{(η 6 -SC 8 H 5 )Cr(CO) 3 } 2 (dppe)] 6.Studies of the activation of organic substrates by more than one transition metal in dinuclear organometallic complexes are increasingly being reported. 2 The interest in such complexes stems not only from their intriguing structural diversities 2,3 but also from their potential catalytic activity, 4 their possible importance in materials with conducting properties 5 and their role in bioinorganic chemistry. 6 Furthermore, metal-ligand activation in dinuclear complexes has not yet been studied systematically and an improved understanding of the scope and extent of such activations is very relevant. Two metals in close proximity sharing a common unsaturated ligand can cooperatively activate and assist in novel reactions, unique transformations and can cause severe structural deformations. 7 Examples are carbon-carbon bond-cleavage and coupling reactions, 8 sterically and/or electronically controlled sites of activity, 9 stabilization of reactive intermediates via co-ordination 1,10 and migratory movements of ligands or metal fragments. 11In our laboratories studies relating to heterobimetallic complexes with σ,π-bridged phenyl and thienyl ligands are of particular interest. 12 Recently we discovered an interesting activation mechanism surrounding a shared thienyl ligand which was π bonded to Cr(CO) 3 and σ bonded to Mn(CO) 5 in the 2 position. The two metal fragments irreversibly, and according to an intramolecular mechanism, exchanged σ,π co-ordination sites. 13 This novel conversion was a direct result of the metals being in electronic contact through the bridging thienyl ligand. These results prompted us further to investigate the extent of activation by σ-bonded early and late transition-metal substituents and their influence on thienyl ligands which are π bonded to Cr(CO) 3 . In this paper we describe the synthesis and characterization of dinuclear complexes with σ-bonded platinum() and gold() fragments in the 2 position of a bridging π-coordinated thienyl ligand.The platinum group metals show very high hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity 14 and Maitlis and co-workers 15 recorded an oxidative insertion of Pt 0 into the C᎐S bond of thiophenes. Unfortunately for HDS purposes the reverse reaction, regenerating thiophene, is favoured. Efforts to prepare platinum() complexes of 2-(2...