Gold(I) alkynyl complexes containing a flexible, biphenyl-derived bis(alkyne)

2,2'-Diethynylbiphenyl was prepared in a three step sequence from commercially available 2,2'-bis(bromomethyl) biphenyl and subsequently reacted with the phosphinegold(I) complexes [AuCl(P)] (P = PEt3, PCy3, (PBu3)-Bu-t, PPh3, PTA) in the presence of base to give the bis(alkynyl) gold(I) complexes [(P)Au(deb) Au(P)] in good yields as air-stable solids. The compounds were fully characterized spectroscopically and the solid state structures of 2,2'-diethynylbiphenyl as well as the PEt3 complex were determined by X-ray diffraction. Both solution and solid-state luminescence spectra of the gold complexes were recorded. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.