Crystal Structures of the Gold(I) Phosphinine Complexes [AuCl(C5H2P-2,6-Me2-4-Ph)] and [AuCl(C5H2P-2,4,6-Ph3)]

The gold(I) phosphinine complexes [AuCl(C5H2P-2,6-Me2-4-Ph)] and [AuCl(C5H2P-2,4,6-Ph3)] were prepared and structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In the former case, individual molecules are aggregated in the crystal as crossed dimers with an Au···Au distance of 3.60 Å, compatible with a weak aurophilic interaction. In the latter case, intermolecular Au···π interactions involving the phosphinine ring are observed with Au···C distances in the range from ca. 3.32 to 3.44 Å, which make [AuCl(C5H2P-2,4,6-Ph3)] the first structurally characterised example of intermolecular Au···π interactions involving a heteroarene.