Isocyanide [AuX(CNPy-2)] (X = Cl, C6F5, fluoromesityl, 1/2 octafluorobiphenyl) and carbene [AuX{C(NR1R2)(NHPy-2)}] (R1R2NH = primary or secondary amines or 1/2 primary diamine) gold(I) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. For X = Cl, the carbene complexes show aurophilic interactions. The fragment NHPy-2, formed in the carbenes, can give rise to intra- (for primary amines) or intermolecular (for secondary amines) hydrogen bonds, depending on the amine used. These bonds and contacts have been studied in the solid state and in solution. The intermolecular hydrogen bonds are split in an acetone solution, but the intramolecular ones, which close a six-membered ring, survive in solution. Except for the fluoromesityl derivatives, the carbene complexes display luminescent properties.

A subtle interplay of coValent bond, hydrogen bond, aurophilic interactions, and steric hindrance controls the nuclearity and the luminescent properties of [Au{2-PyNd C(E)Me}] n (E ) O, NH) complexes. For E ) O a molecular structure with n ) 4 is formed, describing a 20-membered tetrametallacycle. For E ) NH the structure formed shows a trigonal prismatic arrangement of six gold atoms formed by gold-gold interactions between two gold triangles (n ) 3 × 2). Both complexes display luminescent properties.

Monomeric gold(I) carbenes of the type [AuR[C(NR1R2)(NHPy-4)]] (Py-4 = 4-pyridyl) have been prepared with R = C6F5, Fmes (2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) by reaction of the corresponding isocyanide compounds [AuR(CNPy-4)] with primary or secondary amines. The single crystal X-ray diffraction structures of [Au(C6F5)[C(NEt2)(NHPy-4)]].OH2, [Au(Fmes)[C(NEt2)(NHPy-4)]], and [Au(Fmes)[C(NHMe)(NHPy-4)]] show that the presence of the NHPy-4 moiety formed induces the formation of supramolecular macrocycles only supported by hydrogen bond interactions, either with N-H groups of other molecules (tetrameric macrocycles), or with water molecules (dimeric macrocycles). Dimeric gold(I) carbenes were also produced using a diamine to form a bridging carbene, or using octafluorobiphenyl to form a Au-C6F4-C6F4-Au bridge, but the solid state structures of these dimers could not be solved. Most of the complexes herein described display luminescent properties.