Two very different molecular shapes are formed using the ligand 1,3,5-tris(diphenylphosphino)benzene (L); polymeric chains form through Au⋯Au contacts in the crystals of [(ClAu)3L], while the metallocyclophane [(PtCl2)3L2] self assembles from five components when L and [PtCl2(cod)] are combined in a 2:3 molecular ratio.
