A family of alkynylgold(III) complexes [AuI(mu-{CH2}2PPh2)2Au(III)(C triple bond CR)2] (R = Ph, tBu, Me3Si): facile and reversible comproportionation of gold(I)/gold(III) to digold(II).

The symmetric digold(II)dichloride bis(ylide) complex [Au2Cl2(mu-{CH2}2PPh2)2] reacts with acetylides to form the asymmetric heterovalent gold(I)/gold(III) complexes [AuI(mu-{CH2}2PPh2)2AuIII(CCR)2] [R = Ph, tBu, and SiMe3], the phenyl analogue of which was characterized by X-ray crystallography. These compounds represent the first examples of gold(III) complexes containing two acetylide ligands. [AuI(mu-{CH2}2PPh2)2AuIII(CCPh)2] undergoes a reversible comproportionation reaction upon treatment with [Ag(ClO4)tht] to give the symmetric digold(II) cationic complex [Au2(tht)2(mu-{CH2}2PPh2)2](ClO4)2. If this complex is treated with phenylacetylene in the presence of base, the heterovalent gold(I)/gold(III) complex is re-formed. This reversible interconversion between binuclear gold(I)/gold(III) and digold(II) bis(ylide) complexes is unprecedented.