The paper explores the capability of [(dppf)Pt(H-nbu(2)-DTO)]Cl (2) (dppf = 1,1'-diphenylphosphinoferrocene; H-nbu(2)-DTO = di-nbutyl-dithioxamidate) to act as a starting module for heterometallic linear chains. Actually, the reaction of 2 with [RuCl2(p-cymene)](2) affords the heterotrimetallic complex [Cl(p-cymene) Ru(mu-nbu(2)-DTO kappa-N,N Ru kappa-S,S Pt)Pt(dppf kappa-P,P Pt)](2) (4). However 2, allowed to stand, provides a blue compound of formula [(dppf)Pt(H-nbu(2)-DTO)](n)Cl-n (3), the most reliable value of n being 6. The oxidation behavior of the new species 2-4 has also been investigated. In particular, the oxidation behavior of cyclic compound 3 is quite unusual, and suggests a large delocalization of the HOMO over the whole multicomponent molecule. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.