A Thermally Stable Gold(III) Hydride: Synthesis, Reactivity, and Reductive Condensation as a Route to Gold(II) Complexes

Going for gold: The first thermally stable gold(III) hydride [(C N C)*AuH] is presented. It undergoes regioselective insertions with allenes to give gold(III) vinyl complexes, and reductive condensation with [(C N C)*AuOH] to the air-stable Au(II) product, [(C N C)*(2)Au(2)], with a short nonbridged gold-gold bond.