Gold(I), Phosphanes, and Alkynyls: the Perfect Allies in the Search for Luminescent Compounds

A family of mixed phosphane/alkynyl gold(I) complexes was prepared by addition of PPh 3 or PPh 2 py to suspensions of the polymeric species [Au(C≡CR) n ] [R = Ph, 2‐pyridyl (py)] and [Au 2 {C≡C(CH 2 ) 3 C≡C}] n . The resulting complexes are luminescent both at room and low temperature, in solution and in the solid state. The emissions are assigned to intraligand transitions associated with the C≡C moieties or related to 3 [σ(Au–P)→π*(C≡Cpy)] transitions. The crystal structure of dinuclear complex [Au 2 {C≡C(CH 2 ) 3 C≡C}(PPh 2 py) 2 ] shows the presence of dimers stabilized by intermolecular aurophilic interactions.