Unsupported gold(I)-copper(I) interactions through eta1 Au-[Au(C6F5)2]- coordination to Cu+ Lewis acid sites.

The reaction of the complex [Au2Ag2(C6F5)4)N[triple bond]CCH3)2]n (1) with 1 equiv of CuCl in the presence of 1 equiv of pyrimidine ligand leads to the formation of the heteronuclear Au(I)-Cu(I) organometallic polymer [Cu{Au(C6F5)2}(N[triple bond]CCH3)(mu2-C4H4N2)]n (2) through a transmetalation reaction. Complex 2 displays unprecedented unsupported Au(I)...Cu(I) interactions of [Au(C6F5)2]- units with the acid Cu(I) sites in a [Cu(N[triple bond]CCH3)(mu2-pyrimidine)]n+(n) polymeric chain. Complex 2 has a rich photophysics in solution and in the solid state.