Cooperative self-assembly and gelation of organogold(i) complexes via hydrogen bonding and aurophilic AuAu interactions.

With the synergistic combination of intermolecular Au(i)-Au(i) and hydrogen bonding interactions, a rod-coil alkynyl-gold(i)-isocyanide monomer tends to form supramolecular fibers and gels via a cooperative nucleation-elongation self-assembly mechanism, which display Ag(i) ion-triggered responsiveness.