Gold complexes of the type [(AuPEt3)(2)xspa] were prepared by reacting AuPEt3Cl in basic media with the 3-(aryl)-2-sulfanylpropenoic acids H(2)xspa [x = p, Clp, -o-mp, -p-mp, -o-hp, -p-hp, diBr-o-hp, f, t, -o-py; p = 3-phenyl, Clp = 3-(2-chlorophenyl)-, -o-mp = 3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-, -p-mp = 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-, -o-hp = 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-, -p-hp = 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-, -diBr-o-hp = 3-(3,5- dibromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)-, t = 3-(2-furyl)-, t = 3-(2-thienyl)-, -o-py = 3-(2-pyridyl); spa = 2-sulfanylpropenoato], and 2-cyclopentylidene-2-sulfanylacetic acid (H(2)cpa). The complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR, H-1, C-13 and P-31 NMR) and mass spectrometry, and the complexes [(AuPEt3)(2)pspa]center dot 3H(2)O, [(AuPEt3)(2)-p-hpspa]center dot 3H(2)O, [(AuPEt3)(2)tspa)]center dot 3H(2)O, and [(AuPEt3)(2)-o-hpspa] by X-ray diffractometry. The crystals of the first three complexes contain (H2O)(6) clusters hydrogen bonded to [(AuPEt3)2xspa]2 dimer units, whereas in the -o-hpspa derivative the hydrogen bonds are between the monomer [(AuPEt3)2-o-hpspa] units. The antiinflammatory activity of the complexes against plantar edema induced by carrageenan in rats is generally significant, with the values for the o-hpspa and tspa derivatives being particularly high.