Mercury(II) and gold(III) derivatives of 2-phenyl pyridines and 2-phenyl-4-(methylcarboxylato)quinoline

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-328X(99)00645-2

ortho-Mercurated derivatives of several substituted 2-phenylpyridines and of 2-phenyl-4-(methylcarboxylato)quinoline have been prepared and characterised. C,N-chelated gold(III) derivatives, [AuCl₂(C₆H₄C₅H₃RN)] (R = H, 3-Me, 3,5-Me₂, 4-Prⁿ, 4-Bu^t) are prepared more efficiently by trans-metallation reactions than by direct reaction of AuCl₄^- with the phenylpyridines. The new gold complexes were characterised spectroscopically and a variety of substitution reactions have been effected. As is usual with unsymmetrical bidentate ligands, the softer donor atom is found trans to the N-donor of the pyridine unit. Crystal-structure determinations are reported for [Au(OAc)(pmpy)(py)]ClO₄, [Au(ppy)(dpbt)]BPh₄, [Au(ppy)(S₂CNMe₂)]BPh₄ and AuCl(pqcm)₂ [Hppy = 2-phenylpyridine, Hpmpy = 2-phenyl-3-methylpyridine, Hpqcm = 2-phenyl-4-(methylcarboxylato)quinoline].