Transition metal alkynyl complexes by transmetallation from Au(C[triple bond]CAr)(PPh3) (Ar = C6H5 or C6H4Me-4).

Facile acetylide transfer reactions take place between gold(I) complexes Au(C[triple bond]CAr)(PPh3) (Ar = C6H5 or C6H4Me-4) and a variety of representative inorganic and organometallic complexes MXL, (M = metal, X = halide, L, = supporting ligands) featuring metals from groups 8-11, to afford the corresponding metal-alkynyl complexes M(C[triple bond]CR)Ln in modest to good yield. Reaction products have been characterised by spectroscopic methods, and molecular structure determinations are reported for Fe(C[triple bond]CC6H4Me-4)(dppe)Cp, Ru(C[triple bond]CC6H4Me-4)(dppe)Cp*, Ru(C=CCsF,)(l2-O2)(PPh3)Cp*, Ir(C-CC6H4Me-4)(eta2-O2)(CO)(PPh3), Ni(C[triple bond]CC6H4Me-4)(PPh3)Cp and trans-Pt(C[triple bond]CAr)2L2 (Ar = C6H5, L = PPh3; Ar = C6H4Me-4, L = PPh3, PMe3).