A series of seven gold(I) p-tolylthiosulfonate complexes of the general type (L)Au-SS(O)(2)C6H4-4-Me have been prepared from the reaction of silver p-tolylthiosulfonate with the corresponding precursor complexes (L)AuCl in dichloromethane. Yields in excess of 90% were obtained throughout for tertiary phosphine and isocyanide ligands L = PMe3, PPh3, Ph-2(2-Py)P, (4-Me2NC6H4)Ph2P, (PrNC)-Pr-i, and (BuNC)-Bu-t. The complexes are surprisingly stable and undergo controlled decomposition well above 100 C. The crystal and molecular structures have been determined for three representative examples. The Me;P and Ph3P Complexes form dimers with short aurophilic bonding [Au-Au 2.9955(3) and 3.0509(2) Angstrom] in a crossed-swords conformation, while for the (BuNC)-Bu-t complex the monomers with their linear five-atom axes appear as only loosely aggregated dimers with a parallel head-to-tail arrangement [Au-Au 3.5423(3) Angstrom]. In all cases the p-tolylthiosulfonate ligand is S-bonded to the metal center. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.