Isomerization of a symmetrical metal-metal bonded gold(II) ylide dimer to a mixed-valence gold(III)/gold(I) species

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00129a035

The first example of the spontaneous isomerization of a metal-metal bonded gold(II) ylide dimer to its mixed-valence Au(III)/Au(I) isomer is reported. This isomerization occurs in nitromethane and other weakly protonic solvents, such as acetone. The X-ray structure of the mixed-valence species shows the presence of a 3.184 (1) ? Au(III)/Au(I) distance.