Arene C-H activation by gold(iii): solvent-enabled proton shuttling, and observation of a pre-metallation Au-arene intermediate.

Selective Au-C bond cleavage and arene-C-H activation in (C^N^C)Au(iii) pincer complexes are reversible, leading to a solvent-dependent proton shuttling process. The ether-free cleavage products are non-fluxional and show weak gold(iii)-arene interactions commensurate with intermediates postulated for CMD-type arene activation.