The Original Coordination Chemistry of 2-Phosphaphenol with Copper(I) and Gold(I) Halides

2-Phosphaphenol (L) forms unusual complexes with copper and gold halides. With CuCl, a dimeric [L2CuCl](2) complex is observed with L acting both as eta(1)-P terminal and mu(2)-P bridging ligand and a copper-copper short contact of 2.549 angstrom. With copper bromide, a distorted infinite chain [L2CuBr](n) is formed, whereas with copper iodide, the zigzag chain [L2CuI](n) is observed. The phosphaphenol acts as a terminal ligand coating the CuX molecular wires. With gold chloride, a dimeric [LAuCl](2) complex is formed, which is held by an aurophilic interaction at 3.132 angstrom.