A new class of gold cluster compounds. Synthesis and X-ray structure of the octakis(triphenylphosphinegold) dializarinsulphonate, [Au8(PPh3)8](aliz)2

Abstract
[Au9L8]3+(L = PPh3) reacts with L to give the new dication [Au8L8]2+; an X-ray analysis of [Au8(PPh3)8](aliz)2(aliz = alizarinsulphonate) shows that the central gold atom, while still displaying the usual short interactions with all the peripheral metal atoms, is no longer confined in an entirely metallic cage, but is also directly bonded to a phosphine ligand.