A cationic gold complex cleaves BArF24

A sterically shielded cationic NHC gold complex IPr**Au-BArF24 without solvent coordination has been prepared in situ in CH2Cl2-. The monovalent transition metal electrophile, a soft proton'', heterolytically activates the C-B bond of the weakly coordinating counterion tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate at room temperature.