The reaction of [Au-9(PPh3)(8)](3+) with fac-[Ir(aet)(3)] (aet: 2-aminoethanethiolate) led to the structural conversion to [Au-8(PPh3)(8)](2+) with the concomitant formation of [Au-3{Ir(aet)(3)}(2)](3+). A similar structural conversion was also observed when [Au-9(PPh3)(8)](3+) was reacted with fac-[Rh(aet)(3)] or fac-[Co(aet)(3)]. This result demonstrates for the first time that thiolato metal complexes possess an ability to abstract gold atoms, rather than to replace phosphine ligands in a gold cluster.