The first anionic arenediethynylgold(I) complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-328X(02)01621-2

We report synthetic methods for the preparation of mono-, di-, tri- and polyanionic alkynylgold(I) complexes, derived from diethynylarenes. The reaction between PPN[Au(acac)₂] and 1,3-diethynylbenzene [HC≡C(mphen)C≡CH] (1:1 M ratio) afforded the polymeric complex (PPN)_n[Au {C≡C(mphen)C≡C}]n (1) while the monomeric complexes (PPN)[Au{C≡C(Ar)C≡CH}₂] [Ar = mphen (2), mes (3)] resulted when the same dialkyne or 1,3-diethynylmesitylene [HC≡C(mes)C≡CH] were used in a 1:2 M ratio. Complexes PPN[XAu≡C(Ar)C≡CH] [Ar = mphen, X = Cl (4), Ar = mes, X = Cl (5), SCN (6)] were obtained from the metathesis reactions between complexes 2 or 3 and the appropriate PPN[AuX₂] salts. The C≡CH groups in complexes 2 or 4 are acidic enough as to react with [Au(acac)PPh₃] (1:2) or with PPN[Au(acac)₂] (1:1) to give complexes PPN[Au{C≡C(mphen)C≡CAuPPh₃}₂] (7) or (PPN)₃[Au{C≡C(mphen)C≡CAuCl}₂] (8), respectively. Complexes (PPN)₂[XAuC≡C(Ar)C≡CAuX)] [Ar = mphen, X = Cl (9); Ar = mes, X = Cl (10), SCN (11)] have been prepared by reacting [Ph₃PAuC=C(mphen)C=CAuPPh₃] with PPN[AuCl₂] (1:2) (9) or [AuC≡C(mes)C≡CAu]_n with the appropriate PPNX (1:2) salt (10, 11).