The complex (μ,η2:η2-L)[AuCl2]2, L2−=N,N′-bis(α-picolinoyl)hydrazido(2−), as obtained directly or through ring-opening reaction of 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine

N,N′-bis(α-picolinoyl)hydrazine H2L is a potentially bis-tridentate conjugated ligand in its doubly deprotonated form L2−. The digold(III) complex (μ-L)[AuCl2]2 was obtained from KAuCl4 either by using H2L/NaOH or through a ring-opening/hydrolysis reaction of 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (bptz), as similarly observed recently with CuII. The crystal structure of (μ-L)[AuCl2]2 exhibits bis(N,N′)-coordination; two perpendicular molecular halves with uncoordinated carbonyl functions are present which explains the relatively short Au–Au distance of 3.974 Å.