The bright yellow compound is used as a precursor to other platinum complexes.

[2][3] The molecule is tetrahedral, with point group symmetry of Td, as expected for a four-coordinate metal complex of a metal with the d10 configuration.

[4] Even though this complex follows the 18 electron rule, it dissociates triphenylphosphine in solution to give the 16e− derivative containing only three PPh3 ligands: The complex is typically prepared in one-pot reaction from potassium tetrachloroplatinate(II).

Reduction of this platinum(II) species with alkaline ethanol in the presence of excess triphenylphosphine affords the product as a precipitate.

In the second step, this platinum(II) complex is reduced.