Preparation of organogold(III) complexes by oxidizing dichloro-, or bis(pentafluorophenyl)-μ-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethanedigold(I)

The oxidation of compounds of the type XAu(dpe)AuX dpe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane] leads to organogold(III) complexes. When X is Cl, treatment with BrTl(C₆F₅)₂ leads to oxidative addition of two C₆F₅ groups to each gold atom and formation of Cl(C₆F₅)₂ Au(dpe)Au(C₆F₅)₂Cl, which by metathesis with KBr or KI gives the corresponding bromo (or iodo) derivative. When X is C₆F₅ oxidation with halogens leads in the case of X′ = Cl or Br to formation of X′₂ (C₆F₅)Au(dpe)Au(C₆F₅)X′₂ whereas, for X′ = I reductive elimination of IC₆F₅ takes place to give IAu(dpe)AuI.