The reaction of [Ru(CAuCl)Cl2(PCy3)2] with [W(![[triple bond, length as m-dash]](http://www.rsc.org/images/entities/char_e002.gif)
CSnnBu3)(CO)2(Tp*)] (obtained from [W(CBr)(CO)2(Tp*)], nBuLi and ClSnnBu3) affords the heterotetrametallic bis(carbido) complex [WRuAu2(μ-C)2Cl3(CO)2(PCy3)2(Tp*)] in which the two distinct μ-carbido ligands adopt linear and T-shaped geometry at carbon.
![Graphical abstract: Confluence of disparate carbido chemistries: [WRuAu2(μ-C)2Cl2(CO)2(PCy3)2(Tp*)]](http://hg.y866.cn/compound/lib/scimg/usr/1/C8DT03851A.jpg)
