Cationic Au(I) alkyne complexes: synthesis, structure and reactivity

Complexes of the type [((Bu3P)-P-t)Au(eta(2)-alkyne)][SbF6] can be accessed readily by treatment of CH2Cl2 solutions of the alkyne with [AuCl(PBu3t)]/AgSbF6; when the alkyne carries one or two Me3Si substituents, desilylation reactions can occur leading to species with gold bonding in intricate bonding motifs to the C=C fragments.