A novel methodology for the synthesis of complexes containing long carbon chains linking metal centres: molecular structures of {Ru(dppe)Cp*} 2 (μ-C 14 ) and {Co 3 (μ-dppm)(CO) 7 } 2 (μ 3 :μ 3 -C 16 )

Elimination of AuX(PR3)(X = halogen, R = Ph, tol) occurs readily in reactions between compounds containing C(sp)- or C(sp2)-X bonds and alkynyl or polyynyl gold(I) complexes; this reaction has been applied to the syntheses of complexes containing a variety of metal centres linked by C(n) chains (n up to 16).