Gold(I) triazolyls: organometallic synthesis in air and aqueous media

(N-heterocyclic carbene)gold(I) alkynyls and organic azides have undergone cycloadditions in water-t-butanol mixtures with copper metal as the pre-catalyst to give new gold(I) triazolyls in high purity. Substrate tolerability was outlined for organoazides bearing a range of functional groups, and branching alpha to the azide moiety. All products are validated by combustion analysis or high-resolution mass spectrometry; two are also confirmed crystallographically.