Rational assembly of metallophilic Au(I)-Pb(II) and Au(I)-Au(I) puzzle pieces.

The assembly of two different building blocks, [{Au(C 6 F 5 ) 2 }{PbCl(terpy)}] (terpy = 2,2':6':2''-terpyridine) and [{Au(C 6 F 5 ) 2 } 2 {Pb(terpy)}] n , acting as terminal or central pieces, respectively, gives rise to a decanuclear complex built via metallophilic and π-stacking interactions in which the number of Au(I)···Au(I) and Au(I)···Pb(II) interactions is finely controlled.