Typical of Pt(IV), the metal centers adopt an octahedral coordination geometry, {PtCl6}.

This geometry is achieved by forming a polymer wherein half of the chloride ligands bridge between the platinum centers.

Because of its polymeric structure, PtCl4 dissolves only upon breaking the chloride bridging ligands.

[2] PtCl4 is mainly encountered in the handling of chloroplatinic acid, obtained by dissolving of Pt metal in aqua regia.

With methyl Grignard reagents followed by partial hydrolysis, PtCl4 converts to the cuboidal cluster [Pt(CH3)3(OH)]4.