The pathway for the formation of [Co2Au2 (CO) 6 (μ-dppm) 2](3) from dppm and [{(CO) 4CoAu} 2 (μ-dppm)](2a) see involve the intermediate complex [Au2 (μ-dppm) 2][Co (CO) 4] 2 which, although undetected in tetrahydrofurane, was isolated in toluene. This mechanism was confirmed by isolation of the analogous ionic complex [Au2 (μ-dppip) 2][Co (CO) 4] 2 (6) from the reaction between [(ClAu) 2 (μ-dppip) 2](dppip= diphenylphosphinoisopropane) ...