Facile preparation and crystal structure of [bis(diphenylphosphino)amine]digold dichloride

Treatment of bis(diphenylphosphino)amine (dppa) with (dimethylsulfide)gold(I) chloride in the molar ratio 1:2 leads to the dinuclear complex (dppa)Au₂Cl₂ in 95% yield. The compound was crystallized from diethyl ether/dimethylformamide as the 1:1 solvate with dmf, the crystal structure of which has been determined. The complex features an intramolecular Au-Au contact [3.121(1) Å] and an intermolecular hydrogen bond NH-O=C.