New organogold(I) complexes: Synthesis, structure, and dynamic behavior of the polynuclear organogold diphenylmethane and diphenylethane derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-328X(96)06539-4

Two organogold derivatives of diphenylmethane and diphenylethane, Ph₃PAu(0-C₆H₄)CH₂(C₆H₄-0)AuPPh₃ (1) and Ph₃PAu(0-C₆H₄)(CH₂)₂(C₆H₄-0)AuPPh₃ (2), have been synthesized by the reaction of ClAuPPh₃ with Li(0-C₆H₄)CH₂(C₆H₄-0)Li and Li(0-C₆H₄)(CH₂)₂(C₆H₄-0)Li respectively. The interaction of 1 with dppe results in the replacement of the two PPh₃ groups to give a macrocyclic compound Au(0-C₆H₄)CH₂(C₆H₄-0)Au(μ,-PPh₂CH₂CH₂PPh₂) (3) that includes an Au ... Au bond. Compounds 1 and 2 react with one or two equivalents of [Ph₃PAu]BF₄ to form new types of cationic complex [CH₂(C₆H₄-0)₂(AuPPh₃)₃]BF₄ (4), [CH₂(C₆H₄-0)₂(AuPPh₃)₄](BF₄)₂ (5), and [(CH₂)₂(C₆H₄-0)₂(AuPPh₃)₄](BF₄)₂ (6). Complexes 1-6 have been characterized by X-ray diffraction studies, FAB MS, and IR as well as by ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. A complicated system of Au ... H-C agostic interactions, involving the bridging alkyl groups (-CH₂-and -CH₂-CH₂-) of diphenylmethane and diphenylethane ligands, has been found to occur in complexes 1-3 and 6.