Synthesis, structural characterisation and reactions of some vinylgold(I) phosphane complexes

A series of vinylgold(I) complexes [Au(CR=CHR)L] (R = H, Me; L = PPh3, PPh2Me, PPhMe2) were prepared from the reaction of the Grignard reagents [MgBr(CR=CHR)] (R = H, Me) with the gold(i) phosphane complexes [AuCl(L)] (L = PPh3, PPh2Me, PPhMe2) at low temperature. The complexes were characterised by various spectroscopic techniques and, in the case of [Au(CMe=CHMe)(PPh3)], by a single-crystal X-ray structure determination. The gold-carbon bonds of these vinylgold(i) complexes are easily cleaved by acids and, in the presence of potassium permanganate, by species containing acidic protons. ((c) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006).