We report the synthesis and characterization of 12 new dinuclear gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes and the corresponding imidazolium precursors. The focus lies in a systematic study of conformational changes and intra- and intermolecular gold-gold and π-π interactions of dinuclear gold(I) carbene complexes. Common to all members of the series of gold macrocycles are NHC ligands on the basis of imidazole with ethyl side chains and bromide as well as hexafluorophosphate counterions, respectively. The compounds vary in the length of a flexible alkyl linker between the NHC units. For the methylene and ethylene bridged macrocycles, a ring inversion movement can be observed by VT-NMR. In total, 11 molecular structures have been characterized by X-ray diffraction. Open ring conformations with intermolecular π-π and Au-Au interactions prevail, but a backfolded conformation with a short intramolecular Au-Au distance has been found for the ethylene-bridged species. The presence of Au-Au interactions could be proven by quantum chemical calculations.

SOMO catalysis has lately obtained large interest as a new and powerful version of enantioselective organocatalysis which includes radical steps initiated by a one-electron oxidation. The intermediate enamine radical cation has been postulated, but has not been observed directly so far. This communication now reports the direct detection of this key intermediate.