This communication describes a facile route to the preparation of ultrathin gold nanowires using linear chains formed from [{oleylamine)AuCl] complex via aurophilic interaction. The linear chains, with Au-I center dot center dot center dot Au-I bonds as the backbone and surrounded by oleylaimines, can group together to form bundles of polymeric strands. When the Au-I was reduced to Au-0 by reacting with Ag nanoparticles in hexane, the polymeric strands functioned as both the source of Au and the template to media the nucleation and growth of Au nanowires. Using this method, we were able to produce Au nanowires with an average diameter of similar to 1.8 nm and an aspect ratio of >1000 in high yields (similar to 70%).