Bromo[tris(2-cyanoethyl)phosphine]gold(I), [(CEP)AuBr]

In [AuBr(C9H12N3P)], two C=N groups of the tris(2-cyanoethyl)phosphine (CEP) ligand are positioned in the vicinity of square-planar coordination sites so as to shield the central Au-I atom in at least two directions. Although the disposition of two of the C=N groups is indicative of Au ... C=N interactions, these groups do not participate in the metal coordination. The observed shielding of the metal atom is similar to that reported for one of the polymorphs of the monomeric complex [(CEP)AuCl].