Linear neutral platinum–acetylide moiety: beyond the links

In this feature article, brief highlights of research progress on the linear neutral platinum–acetylide moiety, trans-Pt(PR₃)₂(C≡CR′)₂, are presented. Due to its unique characteristics such as the well-defined linear geometry, synthetic accessibility, and intriguing photoproperties, this type of platinum–acetylide moiety has been extensively investigated in many respects from supramolecular chemistry to materials science during the past two decades. However, compared with the extensively studied charged platinum–acetylide complexes, the linear neutral platinum–acetylide moiety has been less reviewed. Based upon our recent progress in platinum chemistry, we provide herein a brief review on the linear neutral platinum–acetylide building block. This feature article will focus on its role as a linkage building block, but beyond the links. Three aspects including complex architectures composed of platinum–acetylide links, platinum–acetylide bridged multichromophoric arrays, and supramolecular self-assembly of platinum–acetylide building blocks are discussed.