Aurophilic association in endo-dicyclopentadienechlorogold(I)

The complex between endo-dicyclopentadiene and gold(I) chloride has been prepared by a substitution reaction in dichloromethane, whereby carbon monoxide in dissolved [AuCl(CO)] has been displaced by the endo-dicyclopentadiene ligand. This ligand is η2-bonded to gold(I) via the CC bond in the norbornene ring. Crystallographic studies show that the [AuCl(C10H12)] moiety undergoes aurophilic association to form a [{AuCl(C10H12)}2] dimer, in which the AuAu distance is 3.4282(8) Å.