“…The A u -P distance (2.255(2) Ä) is only slightly longer than those reported for the following compounds: Ph3PAuCl, 2.235(3) [19], [Ph3PAu(3,5-dimethylpyrazole-./V]+, 2.235(5) [20], C lA uP(Ph2)C H 2(Ph2)P A uC l, 2.238(5) [21] and [(Ph3PA u)2Cl]+, 2.230(5), 2.239(4), 2.240(6) and 2.232(4) Ä [22]. The frans-influence of an im idazolato anion seems then to be com parable with that of a neutral pyrazole or with that of a chloride ion, and it is clearly lower than that of an organic group, a phosphine or a cyanide ion, for which the following A u -P distances are available: Ph3PA uC H 3, 2.279(8) [23] [(Ph3P)2A u]+, 2.323(4) a n d 2.339(4) [17], Ph3PA uCN, 2.27(1) [25] and [(Cy3P)2Au] + , 2.29(11) or 2.316(13) [15].…”