Desulfinylation of Ag(I) Sulfinyl Mesoionic Carbenes: Preparation of C-Unsubstituted Au(I)-1,2,3-Triazole Carbene Complexes

New and well-characterized Ag-bis(1,2,3-triazolylidene) complexes having enantiopure (S)-sulfoxides upon sequential sequential treatment with alcohols and Au(I) form separable mixtures of regioisomeric C-unsubstituted Au-1,2,3-triazolylidene complexes. Mechanistic studies and DFT calculations support a desulfinylation process for in situ generated free triazolylidene salts.