The reaction of the organometallic complex [AuIII(damp-C1.N)Cl2] (damp-C,N = dimethylaminomethylphenyl) with PhP(C6H3SH-2-SiMe3-3)2, H2L, results in cleavage of the Au-C bond and the formation of [AuIIILCl] and [AuIL2AuIII] complexes. The square coordination environment of gold in [AuLCl] is noticeably distorted (maximum deviation from planarity: 0.326(1) Å) by the steric requirements of the tridentate chelating ligand, but the oxidation state ' + 3' of the metal is retained. [AuIL2AuIII] contains gold atoms in both square-planar (AuIII) and linear (AuI) coordination environments. The square-planar AuIII is bound by two trans-chelated PS units, and the two remaining thiolate groups provide the linear coordination of AuI. The Au-Au distance is 2.919(1) Å, indicative of a weak bonding interaction. © 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
