Four platinum(11) cationic complexes were prepared with the mer-coordinating tridentate ligands 2,6-bis(N-pyrazolyl)-pyridine (bpp) and 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-N-pyrazolyl)pyridine (bdmpp): [Pt(bpp)Cl]Cl.H2O; [Pt(bdmpp)Cl]Cl.H2O; [Pt(bpp)(Ph)](PF6); [Pt(bdmpp)(Ph)](PF6). The complexes were characterized by H-1 NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry, and the structures of the bpp derivatives were determined by X-ray crystallography. [Pt(bpp)Cl]Cl.2H(2)O: monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 11.3218(5) Angstrom, b = 6.7716(3) Angstrom, c = 20.6501(6) Angstrom, beta = 105.883(2)degrees, V = 1522.73(11) Angstrom(3), Z = 4. The square planar cations stack in a head-to-tail fashion to form a linear chain structure with alternating Pt...Pt distances of 3.39 and 3.41 Angstrom. [Pt(bpp)(Ph)](PF6).CH3CN: triclinic, P (1) over bar, a = 8.3620(3) Angstrom, b = 10.7185(4) Angstrom, c = 13.4273(5) Angstrom, alpha = 96.057(1)degrees, beta = 104.175(1)degrees, gamma = 110.046(1)degrees, V = 1072.16(7) Angstrom(3), Z = 2. Cyclic voltammograms indicate all four complexes undergo irreversible reductions between -1.0 and -1.3 V vs Ag/AgCl (0.1 M TBAPF(6)/CH3CN), attributable to ligand- and/or metal-centered processes, By comparison to related 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine complexes, the electrochemical and UV-visible absorption data are consistent with bpp being both a weaker sigma-donor and pi-acceptor than terpyridine. Solid samples of [Pt(bpp)(Ph)]-(PF6) at 77 K exhibit a remarkably intense, narrow emission centered at 655 nm, whereas the other three complexes exhibit only very weak emission.