A highly water-soluble platinum(ii) complex containing a thiopropyl-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) ligand functionalised with a pendant glycerol group.

Reaction of the novel thiopropyl-closo-1,2-carborane ligand bearing a pendant glycerol group HS(CH(2))(3)CB(10)H(10)CCH(2)OCH(CH(2)OH)(2)(L) with the labile platinum(ii) precursor [Pt(MeCN)(terpy)](OTf)(2)(terpy = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine; OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) affords the highly water-soluble platinum(ii) complex [PtL(terpy)]OTf, the first example of a metal-carborane complex functionalised with a water-solubilising glycerol group.