REACTIONS OF TRIMERIC 1-BENZYL-2-GOLD(I)IMIDAZOLE LEADING TO AUI CARBENE COMPLEXES - CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF BENZYL-3-BENZOYL-IMIDAZOLIN-2-YLIDEN]CHLOROGOLD(I)

The crystal structure determination of a compound previously described as enzyl)imidazolato-N3,C2}(chloro)benzoylgold(III)], which turned ou t to be a gold(I) mononuclear carbene derivative, has led to a reconsi deration of the reactions of [Au3im3] (im = mu-(N1-benzyl)imidazolato- N3,C2) with reagents X-Y. The mononuclear or trinuclear nature of othe r Au imidazolyl derivatives is discussed and the compounds obtained by reaction with X-Y = Cl-COOEt, I-Et or Cl-p-tosyl and chlorobenzoyl ap pear to e mononuclear, whereas those obtained by reaction with Me3SiI, SOCl2 or I2 appear to be trinuclear mixed valence or gold(III) compou nds.