Displacement of tetrahydrothiophen (tht) from AuR(tht) (R = 2,4,6-C6F3H2) by anionic ligands gives [AuRX]-, which reacts with AgClO4 or AgR to give [AuR]4, [RAuSCNAuR]- or [AuAgR2]x. Neutral [AuR3L (L = PPh3, AsPh3, SbPh3, OPPh3, SPPh3, NCMe, NCPr, NCPh, NC(CHCH2), o-(NC)2C6H4 or py), (μ-4,4′-bipy)AuR3 or cis-AuR2Cl(py)], anionic {(NBu4)[AuR3Br] or (NBu4)[AuR4]} or cationic {trans-[AuR2(4,4′-bipy)]ClO4} gold(III) complexes are obtained by displacement of the ether ligand of AuR3(OEt2), AuR2Cl(OEt2) or [AuR2(OEt2)2] ClO4. © 1990.