Isolation and reactivity of a gold(I) hydroxytrifluoroborate complex stabilized by anion-π+ interactions.

A 9,9-dimethylxanthene-based ligand substituted at the 4- and 5-positions by a phosphine and a xanthylium unit, respectively, has been prepared and converted into an AuCl complex, the structure of which reveals an intramolecular Au–Cl⋯π+ interaction. This new ligand platform was also found to support the formation of an unprecedented hydroxytrifluoroborate derivative featuring a “hard/soft” mismatched Au–μ(OH)–BF3 motif. Despite its surprising stability, this gold hydroxytrifluoroborate complex is a remarkably potent carbophilic catalyst which readily activates alkynes, without activator.