[mu-4,5-Bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene]bis[(trifluoroacetato)gold(I)] and its dichloromethane 0.58-solvate.

The dinuclear Au(I) complex containing the 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (xantphos) ligand and trifluoroacetate anions exists in a solvent-free form, [mu-4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene]bis[(trifluoroacetato)gold(I)], [Au(2)(C(2)F(3)O(2))(2)(C(39)H(32)OP(2))], (I), and as a dichloromethane solvate, [Au(2)(C(2)F(3)O(2))(2)(C(39)H(32)OP(2))].0.58CH(2)Cl(2), (II). The trifluoroacetate anions are coordinated to the Au(I) centres bridged by the xantphos ligand in both compounds. The Au(I) atoms are in distorted linear coordination environments in both compounds. The phosphine substituents are in a syn arrangement in the xantphos ligand, which facilitates the formation of short aurophilic Au...Au interactions of 2.8966 (8) A in (I) and 2.9439 (6) A in (II).