Aurophilicity in action: stepwise formation of dinuclear Au(I) macrocycles with rigid 1,8-dialkynylanthracenes

Two phosphane–gold(I) functions (with tri(para-tolyl)- or tri-n-butylphosphane) were attached to a 1,8-diethynylanthracene backbone. The ligand size prevents direct interaction between the gold atoms, but the initial products rearrange to form macrocyclic anions comprising two 1,8-diethynylanthracene and two gold units, linked to cationic gold(I) fragments by maximising aurophilic interactions.